Juvenile Prosecution

• The mission of the juvenile prosecution division is to protect the public from future victimization by repeat juvenile offenders.  At the same time, the course of prosecution must provide opportunities for rehabilitation for the youthful offender who is receptive to betterment.  The offender’s case may be referred to the Juvenile Diversion Program if the offender appears open to betterment.

• The District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Unit Accomplishes its mission by adhering to the legislative finding that “while holding paramount the public safety, the juvenile justice system must take into consideration the best interests of the juvenile, the victim, and the community in providing appropriate treatment to reduce the rate of recidivism in the juvenile justice system and to assist the juvenile in becoming a productive member of society.” Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 19-2.5-101(1)(b).  

• The Juvenile Prosecution Unit has four full time Deputy District Attorneys, headed by one Senior Deputy District Attorney.  The Juvenile Unit handles Petty Offenses, Misdemeanors, Felonies, and utilizes its own Special Victims Unit prosecutor.

• Each case is handled individually and evaluated by Prosecutors based on the facts of the case, circumstances of the juvenile, and the best means of rehabilitation while ensuring public safety.  In reviewing the cases, Deputy District Attorneys look for input from a large array of professionals including Law Enforcement, Educational Professionals, The Department of Human Services, The Office of the Guardian Ad Litem, and outside agencies that provide rehabilitative services to juveniles in our community and around the State of Colorado. 

• The Juvenile Prosecutor’s goal is to seek a fair and just resolution of an individual juvenile’s case while taking into consideration of the seriousness of the cases, the victim’s input, the juvenile respondent’s unique situation, and often input from some or all of the various professionals mentioned above.  The Juvenile Prosecutor strives to hold public safety paramount, while taking into consideration the best interests of the juvenile and the community, to assist the juvenile in becoming a law abiding and productive member of society as the legislature has directed in Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 19-2.5-101. 

• Juvenile Delinquency cases are governed in accordance with the Victims’ Rights Act.

• Some cases may have not been sent to us by law enforcement but written into “Teen Court” through the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Court, which is not handled by the District Attorney’s Office. 

Differences between adult prosecution and juvenile prosecution?

• Juvenile cases are designated “JD” cases, abbreviated for Juvenile Delinquency.
• Juvenile Delinquency is a unique system that blends elements of Civil Court with Criminal Court.
• The Colorado Juvenile Justice system falls under its own statutory code of 19-2.5-101 and the following statutes under that statutory title.
• The outcomes differ greatly between adult and juvenile cases for a number of reasons to include the fact that the possible penalties and sentencing differ greatly between juveniles and adults, and the above mentioned legislative declaration of The Colorado Juvenile Justice System as outlined in C.R.S. 19-2.5-101.
• A juvenile MUST appear with a guardian at court.  Juveniles may not attend court without a guardian present.  Juveniles may not represent themselves in court, and parents may not represent their children.  The Court will direct you to apply for the Public Defender or retain private counsel.

For Victims of Juvenile Crime

• If you would like to contact your Deputy DA, you can call the District Attorney’s Main Line with the Defendant’s name, case number, or courtroom your case is in. You may also ask for the victim advocate for the Juvenile Prosecution Unit.
• Questions and Resources:
• Restitution
• Victims Compensation
• Protection Orders
• Victim Impact Statements

For Respondent’s (Charged Juveniles) Coming to Court

• Where to go?
• The Summons you signed with your child will have your court date and assigned court room.
• All Juvenile Delinquency Summons are written into Division Y, in the West Tower of the El Paso County Court House. Courtroom W270.
• What to wear?
• It is not expected for juveniles or their guardians to wear formal attire to court, however, clothing should be appropriate.
• Wear clothes that are free from profanity, explicit imagery, or offensive materials.
• Clothing that shows excessive skin or undergarments is not court appropriate.
• What to bring?
• Bring a copy of your summons to court.
• If you have applied for the services of the Office of the Public Defender, bring a copy of your application.  Whether or not you were approved, the Court may request to see your application.
• Do not bring anything that is prohibited entry into the courthouse including but not limited to: Weapons, drugs, offensively odorous items, etc.
• What to expect at Court?
• At a first appearance on a summons, the Juvenile and the Guardian will be provided a copy of the “Petition”, which is the formal charging document.
• Charges enumerated on the petition may be different than those of the summons since the District Attorney’s Office makes the final decision as to what charges should be filed.
• The Juvenile as well as their guardian will be required to sign a Mandatory Protection Order, pursuant to C.R.S. 18-1-1001.
• These orders are mandatory in every case, and the conditions are set by the Court, not the District Attorney.
• A copy will be given to the court and a copy will be for your records.
• The Judge will sthen et the case for a subsequent Court Date.  Most cases are not be resolved on your first court date.
• Possible Outcomes - There are numerous outcomes in a juvenile case, each offers the opportunity for rehabilitation and the chance to reintegrate back into the community.  Some of the possibilities include:
• Diversion
• Restorative Justice
• Probation
• Division of Youth Services and Youthful Offender System