Greeley Juvenile Defense Attorney

At Bruno Lilly Legal, PLLC, our Greeley juvenile defense attorney is a compassionate and knowledgeable advocate for young people. Our team has the skills to help minors and their families navigate the juvenile justice system in Colorado. If your child or underage loved one was arrested and charged with a criminal offense, we are here to help you navigate every step of the legal process. For a strictly confidential initial consultation with a top Colorado juvenile justice lawyer, please call us at 720-340-1373 or send us a direct message. 

Who Is Considered a Juvenile in Colorado?

Many states have varying laws and definitions surrounding minors. In most states, a juvenile is defined as an individual above the age of 10 and below the age of 18. Under Colorado law, a person who is less than 18 years of age is considered a juvenile. The youngest age a minor may be charged as an adult is 12 years old. This does not mean, however, that every juvenile will be charged and tried as a minor. Criminal offenses may have differing levels of severity and one may be tried as an adult if the circumstances deem it necessary.

If your minor was arrested, you may be wondering what circumstances would result in a minor being tried as an adult. In Colorado, if a minor commits a class 1 or 2 felony or commits a crime of violence, they could face being tried as an adult. A minor’s case may be transferred to an adult court depending on a handful of factors:

• The juvenile’s age (as the minor gets older, the risk of them being tried as an adult can increase),
• The severity of the offense,
• The minor’s criminal history, and
• The district attorney’s decision to invoke the district court’s original jurisdiction or their desire to transfer the hearing to the district court.

We Handle a Full Range of Juvenile Criminal Offenses 

It is no secret that teenagers can get themselves into trouble. A youthful indiscretion—even a more serious matter—should not follow a minor around for the rest of their life. Colorado’s juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment—but families need to know how to navigate the complexities of the process. At Bruno Lilly Legal, we are well-versed in handling the full spectrum of juvenile justice cases. Some of the most common juvenile offenses in Greeley include: 

• Trespassing: Trespassing occurs when a person enters and remains on someone else’s property without authorization. It can be charged as a criminal offense and it is one of the most common juvenile justice cases. 
• Vandalism: Vandalism is another relatively common juvenile justice case. Broadly defined, vandalism is the criminal act of knowingly damaging or defacing someone else’s property. It can carry serious penalties in Colorado. 
• Traffic Violations: We help teenagers navigate the full range of traffic violations, including careless driving, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving without a license or with a suspended license. 
• Intoxicated Driving: Drunk driving or drugged driving is a serious criminal offense in Colorado―especially if the driver is underage. Our Colorado juvenile defense lawyer has the skills and knowledge to handle DUI charges. 
• Drug Possession: A juvenile can be arrested and charged with the possession of a banned substance. If your minor is facing a drug possession charge or any other type of drug-related offense, we can help. 
• Assault & Battery: Assault and battery are both serious criminal offenses in Colorado. Depending on the circumstances, there could even be felony charges filed. Our Greeley juvenile defense lawyer handles all types of assault charges and battery charges. 
• Sex Crimes Offenses: A juvenile could face a sex-based offense for a number of different reasons, including an alleged statutory sexual assault violation if they are 17 years of age. Contact our Greeley sex crimes defense lawyer for immediate help. 

Protecting the Future of Your Child: Understanding the Juvenile Justice System

In Colorado, there is a specific juvenile justice system (juvenile court) that handles cases when the alleged offender is under the age of 18. A person 18 years or older will have their case heard in the adult criminal court. The key difference is that the juvenile court strongly emphasizes rehabilitation, treatment, and education. Compared to the adult criminal court, it de-emphasizes punishment and other punitive measures. 

That is not to say that navigating the juvenile justice process is easy or stress-free for parents or other loved ones. It can be difficult. When you are notified of a minor’s arrest, they may be released back into your custody as they await their hearing. Though, that is not guaranteed. A judge has the discretion to keep a minor detained in a juvenile facility. In most cases, there will be a detention hearing. To get a child released into your custody, you may be required to prove that you can provide a safe, secure, and structured environment. 

Havilah Louise Bruno Lilly is an Experienced, Compassionate Juvenile Defense Lawyer 

With extensive experience working in the Weld County District Attorney’s office in Greeley, our founder Havilah Louise Bruno Lilly has well-rounded insight into the criminal justice system. She is a dedicated advocate for protecting the rights—and most importantly, the future—of teenagers who have gotten themselves into trouble. Among other things, our Greeley juvenile defense lawyer is ready to: 

• Hear your story and answer questions about the juvenile justice process;
• Investigate the incident, gathering relevant information; 
• Explore every option for limiting the consequences of the alleged offense; and 
• Zealously advocate for minors—with an emphasis on protecting their future.  

Call Our Greeley Juvenile Defense Attorney for Immediate Help

At Bruno Lilly Legal, PLLC, our Greeley juvenile defense attorney is a compassionate, reliable, and future-focused advocate for teenagers and families. If your child was arrested, we are more than ready to help them navigate the juvenile justice process. Call us today at 720-340-1373 or connect with us online to set up your completely confidential initial case consultation. We provide juvenile defense representation in Weld County, and throughout the surrounding area.