If your child has been accused of a crime in Fort Collins, Colorado, she may be detained and brought to a juvenile detention center. In Colorado, juvenile detention is avoided where possible, as detention can often have negative repercussions on a child. Even so, there are still some cases in which juveniles are arrested and brought to a detention center, where they are held for a portion or even the entirety of their criminal case. Below, our top criminal defense lawyers discuss juvenile detention, and why your child needs a top attorney to represent her at the Larimer County Courts:
1. What Happens When Your Child is Accused of a Crime in Fort Collins?
If your child has been accused of a crime, he may be issued a summons, or he could be arrested by Fort Collins Police or Larimer County Sheriff. A summons is a form which lists the crime(s) the juvenile is facing and the date for which the juvenile must appear at the Larimer County Courts. If a summons is issued, the juvenile is not under arrest. However, he could be arrested if he fails to appear in court at the date and time specified on the summons.
If your child is arrested, he will first be brought to the HUB in Larimer County. The HUB is an intake facility that assesses juveniles accused of crimes. There, intake specialists determine whether the juvenile should be detained, or whether he can be sent back home to wait for his first court appearance. If your child is detained, he will be sent to Platte Valley Youth Services Center in Greeley or possibly another facility in the state based on availability. He will then have a detention hearing within 48 business hours of his detainment.
2. What is the Detention Hearing Like at the Larimer County Courts?
At the detention hearing at the Larimer County Courts, a judge or magistrate presiding over your child’s case will determine whether she should remain in juvenile detention, or if she should be sent back home. In the latter case, your child will be expected to appear for all future court hearings. If she does not, a bench warrant for her arrest will be issued.
Several factors will determine whether a judge decides to allow your child to remain in juvenile detention. Age and the type of crime committed are two major considerations. For example, according to C.R.S. 19-2.5-304, a child under the age of 13 will not be detained, unless she has committed a felony or weapons-related offense. If the judge determines it is best for your child to remain in detention, she will be sent back to Platte Valley, and will remain there throughout the duration of her case.
3. When Do Juveniles Remain in Detention in Loveland and Fort Collins?
There are some instances in which juveniles remain in detention in Loveland and Fort Collins. According to C.R.S. 19-2.5-305, these factors include:
- The juvenile poses a risk to society, and detention is necessary to mitigate that risk.
- There is enough probable cause demonstrating that the juvenile committed the offense with which he is charged.
- A detention screening instrument determined that the juvenile is eligible for further detention.
Generally, the Larimer County Courts avoid juvenile detention where possible, and seek restorative justice programs for juveniles instead of detention. However, in some cases, the Courts may deem it necessary for a juvenile to be detained rather than released back into the community.
4. Does My Child Need a Top Fort Collins Criminal Defense Lawyer?
Accusations of a crime are serious, and your child needs a top criminal defense lawyer to represent him or her. We always try to minimize the consequences related to a criminal charge, including getting your child’s juvenile court criminal records expunged relatively quickly after your child’s case has concluded. It is important that your child has a lawyer to defend her in court. Adjudication – the juvenile version of conviction, or being found guilty of a crime – can still result in significant damage on your child’s future. Your child also has the right to an attorney like an adult does, and it is in her best interest to hire the best criminal defense lawyer. Don’t wait, and contact a top criminal defense lawyer today who will protect your child’s future.
Has your child been charged with a crime in Fort Collins or elsewhere in Larimer County? Help your child to exercise his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Then contact a criminal defense lawyer with decades of experience defending juveniles at the Larimer County Courts at (970) 658-0007 to discuss your child’s case. Together, we can protect your child’s future.
The location for the Larimer County Courthouse is 201 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. We’ll see you there!
Photo by Ashly Brine