Colorado Springs Juvenile Probation Attorneys

Probation for Juveniles in Colorado

A juvenile, or a young person ages 10 to 17-years-old, may face many different options if they are found to have broken the law in Colorado. A Colorado juvenile court may send a young person to one of several reform programs or to spend some time in juvenile detention. The court may also choose to send a young person through a probation program if they are found to have committed a non-violent crime or a juvenile-specific infraction for which probation may be appropriate, such as running away.

Juveniles Fulfilling Probation Requirements

In most Colorado judicial districts, adult and juvenile probation matters are handled by the same probation offices. Whether or not probation is appropriate for a particular person depends on the nature of the crime they are charged with committing and the amount of supervision the person will need from the community in order to fulfill all of their probation requirements.

Colorado law allows juveniles to petition the court for probation in nearly all cases. The only persons who cannot ask for probation instead of incarceration or another penalty are those who are convicted of committing a Class 1 felony, those who have been convicted of at least two previous felonies of any class, and those who are convicted of a felony when they have already been convicted of a separate Class 1, 2, or 3 felony within the past 10 years. Class 1 is the most serious class of felony in Colorado and carries the harshest possible penalties with conviction; however, the number of juvenile individuals convicted of a Class 1 felony in Colorado each year is typically small.

Probation Eligiblity in Colorado Springs

Even if a certain young person does not appear to be eligible for probation, the court may grant probation if the juvenile and/or their experienced juvenile probation lawyer provide specific evidence that probation is appropriate in the young person's individual case. The types of evidence the court will wish to see depends on the individual factors of each person's case, but it typically includes evidence that the young person will not be likely to commit violent acts, that the young person has not been convicted of a violent crime, that the young person is not likely to commit any other violations of Colorado law, and that the young person's needs for supervision, education, and reform can be adequately handled without committing the young person to a juvenile facility or reform program.

A young person on probation will generally be expected to avoid any more charges or convictions of crime, stay in school, and meet other probation requirements. A probation officer will work with the juvenile and their family to help ensure these requirements are met.

Call The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. Today

If you or someone in your family is facing charges in the juvenile justice system, the experienced legal team at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help protect your legal rights in court and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. To learn more, contact our Colorado Springs juvenile crime attorneys at (719) 475-2555 today.

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