Greeley Juvenile
Defense Attorney

Bruno Lilly LeClere

At Bruno Lilly LeClere, 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 LeClere, we are well-versed in handling the full spectrum of juvenile justice cases. Some of the most common juvenile offenses in Greeley include: 

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.