When a juvenile is arrested in Colorado, the child may be released to a parent or responsible adult, referred for detention screening, or held for a prompt detention hearing. If the child remains in custody, the hearing generally must occur within 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The district attorney then decides whether to file a delinquency petition, offer diversion, or decline to prosecute formally. Decisions made during
I often receive calls from frustrated individuals who have been rejected for a job or housing opportunity because of the appearance of a dismissed case on their criminal record. Since their case was dismissed, they were under the impression that it would no longer appear on their record. Some judges contribute to this misperception by telling defendants taking deferred judgement pleas that if they successfully complete probation, their case will
