Juvenile Arrests to the HUB in Fort Collins Larimer County Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney
For juveniles in Larimer County (including Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park), the process by which a juvenile is charged with a crime is as follows:
1.For a misdemeanor charge, the juvenile will be issued a summons that must be signed by the juvenile and a parent or guardian. The court date and location will be listed on the summons.
2. For a felony charge, law enforcement will bring their reports to the Larimer County District Attorney’s office for review. The district attorney who reviews the case will decide which charges are appropriate. Then, one of two things will happen:
a. A letter will be sent to the juvenile and parent or guardian with a notification of the court date. This letter is a Summons to Appear. Attached to this summons will be a petition that outlines the charges the juvenile is facing; or
b. The Petition for Delinquency is given to a juvenile judge along with an affidavit and request for an arrest warrant. The judge will look over the information and determine if an arrest warrant is necessary and, if so, what the bond amount will be.
For example, if your child is accused of a more serious crime like Sexual Assault, the prosecutor may feel an arrest warrant is necessary. If the judge agrees, then the warrant will be issued. If you know about the warrant, you may be able to help your child turn themselves in, meaning you won’t be surprised by law enforcement showing up to your house and taking your child away in handcuffs. Getting a criminal defense attorney involved early, like when you are first notified about an investigation or questioned by police, can facilitate the easier route when it comes to an arrest.
The Juvenile Hub in Larimer County Juvenile Jail After an Arrest Warrant in Larimer County
Once a warrant is issued, your child will either have to turn themselves in or they will be arrested by the Fort Collins or Loveland Police. Either way, they will likely end up at the HUB. The HUB is located at:
2555 Midpoint Drive, Suite F
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
The HUB is Larimer County’s juvenile assessment center. Their intake specialists handle all the juvenile intakes for detainable charges and warrants. The child will sit down with a screener to get background information on the child and assess their risk level. The assessments help determine if the juvenile should be detained or allowed to remain in the community while their case is pending.
Fort Collins Juvenile HUB Detention Screening and Assessment Guide: Tool Used to Evaluate Your Child for Placement
The Juvenile Detention Screening and Assessment Guide is a tool the HUB intake specialist will use to determine the most appropriate placement for the juvenile. The document uses a flow chart format that asks questions to identify the juvenile’s risk factors. There are mandatory hold factors including if the charges include a crime of violence or if there is a warrant. If a judge signs a warrant and does not set a bond amount, the juvenile will be held until they can be brought before the judge. The judge can also determine if an out-of-home placement is most appropriate for the juvenile.
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Juvenile Secure Detention and Other Placement Options for Larimer County
Placement options for Fort Collins juveniles while their court case is pending include:
Platte Valley Youth Correctional Facility / Staff-Secure Facility
o This placement is used when there is a no bond hold or the intake screener determines that secure detention is the most appropriate placement. The child can be taken to the correctional facility or to a staff-secure facility where they use 24-hour line of sight supervision.
Release to Parent, Guardian, or Legal Custodian
o This placement is used when the screener determines the juvenile is low risk to the community. The child and guardian will sign a form that they promise to appear in court. The juvenile may also have special requirements and restrictions and could be subject to electronic monitoring.
Shelter / Non-Secure Facility
o This placement is for juveniles who need to be removed from their home, but don’t need physical restrictions. It is a temporary placement.
Larimer County Juvenile Detention Hearing Following Arrest in Loveland and Estes Park
If after the screening, the juvenile is to be securely detained, then a detention hearing must be held within 48 hours (not including weekends or holidays) from the time the child is taken into custody. The purpose of the detention hearing is to determine if the juvenile should be held in custody or released. At the end of the detention hearing, the court will decide the next steps for the child regarding placement. The options include:
1. Release the juvenile to the custody of their parent, guardian, or custodian without a bond;
2. Release the juvenile to the custody of their parent, guardian, or custodian with a bond;
3. Release the juvenile from secure detention with supervision;
4. Place the juvenile in a shelter, non-secure facility, or staff- secure facility; or
5. Place the juvenile in a secure detention facility (Platte Valley Youth Correctional Facility) because they are deemed a danger to themselves or the community.
These placements can be re-evaluated as the case progresses and are not set in stone.