Over the course of the past few decades, the college application process, and higher education generally has become increasingly more competitive. Colleges and universities have increased their screening of applicants to include criminal background checks on prospective students in making admission decisions. This increase in screening could mean that a childish mistake at a young age could have larger ramifications down the road. If your son or daughter is facing prosecution for any criminal offense, even what may seemingly be a minor offense for property damage, it would be prudent to first contact our team at The Bussey Law firm to discuss your child’s legal situation.
Criminal mischief occurs where a person “knowingly damages the real or personal property of one or more other persons, including property owned by the person jointly with another person or property owned by the person in which another person has a possessory or proprietary interest, in the course of a single criminal episode”. COLORADO REVISED STATUTE § 18-4-501. This damage can result from relatively minor actions like vandalizing a mailbox or spray-painting a wall to more serious damage such as slashing car tires or breaking storefront windows. The severity of a criminal mischief offense is determined by the value of the damage. For example, damage which is valued at $300 or less can be charged as a class 3 misdemeanor while damage greater than $1000 can be charged as a felony offense. Even if the incident may appear minor in nature, a juvenile adjudication can be damaging to a young person’s future.
Colleges throughout Colorado and the rest of the country have made questioning an applicant’s criminal background a standard part of their applications. You can read more about the University of Colorado’s admissions policy for applicants with criminal history here and Colorado State University’s similar policy here. These policies potentially apply to all criminal offenses and not just more serious crimes, like violent and/or sexual offenses.
If your child is facing prosecution for a criminal mischief offense or has been charged with a criminal mischief offense, finding representation for your child may help immeasurably in the future. Our team here at The Bussey Law Firm has a breadth of experience representing young people for various offenses, to include criminal mischief. Do not jeopardize your child’s future over a seemingly “minor” incident.
There is no time to waste when it comes to ensuring a proper defense for your child if he or she has been accused of a criminal offense. Call the Colorado criminal mischief attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. today at (719) 475-2555 to talk to our team about your child’s case and make sure his or her rights and future are protected.