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
House Bill 12-1271, signed into law earlier this year, could play a significant role in the case of Austin Sigg, who has been charged with the murder of Jessica Ridgeway. Â Sigg’s attorneys have already declared that they will be seeking to implement the reverse transfer procedure provided for by this bill.
What is a reverse transfer? Essentially, what a reverse transfer does is allow a juvenile who has been
