Having your child charged with a crime may be even more stressful and anxiety-inducing than receiving a criminal charge yourself. You may have additional fears if your child faces a charge that may lead to the state prosecuting your son or daughter as an adult.
There are various, highly distinct circumstances under which your child may undergo prosecution as an adult in Colorado. These circumstances include the following.
1: Your child at least 12 and facing a felony charge
Your child may face adult penalties if they are 12 or older and convicted of an offense that would constitute a felony offense if committed by an adult. Under these circumstances, your son or daughter’s case may undergo transfer from juvenile to adult court.
2: Your child is at least 16 and facing certain charges
If your child is 16 or older and is charged with violent or sexual crimes, the case may wind up in adult court. Whether this happens depends on if the court judge finds enough evidence indicating that your child committed the offense in question.
3: The prosecutor decides to do so when certain conditions exist
If your child is facing a charge for a serious crime and a juvenile court determines that probable cause exists, a prosecutor may decide to move your child’s case to adult court.
4: Your child has a specific past history
If your son or daughter already received a conviction in a case where he or she underwent prosecution as an adult, future cases involving your child must also take place in adult court.
Juvenile offenses typically come with less-severe penalties than adult offenses. In some cases, you may be able to help increase the chances of your child undergoing prosecution in juvenile rather than adult court.