Denver County Court

Juvenile Court Appearance

A parent or legal guardian must appear in court with a juvenile defendant.  Read important information related to juvenile court appearances:

APPEARING IN COURT

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO COVID-19 ALL COURT PROCEEDINGS ARE OCCURRING VIRTUALLY. PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO GET INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN THE VIRTUAL COURTROOM:

https://www.denvercountycourt.org/virtual-court

The Denver County Juvenile Court is held in Courtroom 104 of the City & County Building and hears violations of municipal ordinances and a limited number of state statutes involving individuals under the age of 18. Typical violations heard in Juvenile Court are curfew, possession of marijuana, underage drinking, disturbing the peace, shoplifting, and unlawful acts at school. The maximum penalty for these violations is $999.

When you arrive, you will be required to go through security. Please allow enough time to park and go through security so you can be on time. Courtroom 104 is located on the first floor. Check in with the courtroom clerk once you arrive.

A prosecutor from the City Attorney’s Office will be involved in cases scheduled in this courtroom.

Juveniles appearing in court must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

More serious matters are heard in the Denver District Juvenile Court which is part of Denver District Court located in the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. The Clerk’s Office is in Room 125.

Traffic tickets issued to persons under the age of 18 are heard in various traffic courtrooms located in the City and County Building or Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. Please read your ticket carefully to determine the proper courtroom location.

COURT SCHEDULE

The Denver County Juvenile Court is held in Courtroom 104 in the City & County Building Courthouse located at 1437 Bannock St..

A parent or legal guardian must appear with the juvenile at all court proceedings.

PLEASE NOTE: EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST, 2021 ARRIGNMENT TIMES WILL CHANGE AND WILL OCCUR ON THURSDAYS AT 1:00 P.M

Arraignments, which is when the Judge will advise you of your rights, explain the charges against you, and ask if you plead guilty or not guilty, are held on Thursday at 8:00 a.m.

Trials are held every Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. Please contact jvcourtroom@denvercountycourt.org for more information.

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A JUVENILE CASE

The people involved in a juvenile case include:

  • Defendant – Person accused of committing a crime.
  • City Attorney – Lawyer who brings charges against a defendant, decides what plea bargains to offer, and represents the City and County of Denver in juvenile cases.
  • Judge – Neutral party who makes rulings on issues of law, decides guilt or innocence of the accused during court trials, and decides what sentence to be imposed.
  • Private Counsel – An attorney for the defendant who is chosen by the defendant to represent him/her in the juvenile matter. Private counsel representation is paid for by the defendant.
  • Interpreter – Neutral party who interprets for the defendant in order to facilitate communication between the defendant and the other parties involved in the case. The interpreter also performs this job in the courtroom so the defendant can understand everything that is said during the proceedings in his or her case. Interpreters are also provided for witnesses and victims who do not speak English.
  • Safe City Representative – Operates the Municipal Juvenile Diversion Program which is designed to provide an alternative to the traditional court process. Defendants who successfully complete diversion will have their case dismissed.

COURTROOM RULES

  • No food, drink, or gum chewing;
  • Dress in appropriate attire. Shirt and shoes are required. Casual attire such as wearing a tank top or shorts is inappropriate and the Judge could decide not to hear your case if dressed inappropriately;
  • No weapons, markers, or sharp objects. Denver County Courthouses are fully secured facilities and all visitors are subject to weapons screening upon entering the facility;
  • All electronic devices such as pagers, cell phones, Ipads, and lap-top computers must be silenced or turned off in the courtroom;
  • Address the Judge or Magistrate as “Your Honor”;
  • Maintain a professional demeanor and attitude;
  • Be on time for your hearing;
  • Do not enter the area between the counsel table and Judge’s bench without permission;
  • If you are under age of 18, you must bring a parent or legal guardian with you.

Additional rules may be posted on the courtroom door or explained by courtroom staff.

TYPES OF HEARINGS

Juvenile cases have various stages of proceedings set and heard by the court. The Judge may order the public excluded from any hearing, trial, or other proceeding involving a juvenile defendant. Listed below are customary hearings in juvenile cases.

Arraignment: The defendant is brought before the court to plead to the charges in the summons and complaint.

Motions: An oral or written request made by a party to the court for a ruling or order directing some act or action to be performed.

Diversion Hearing: The defendant is given a period of time to complete the Diversion Program. A hearing is scheduled to determine if the program was completed successfully and the case can be dismissed. If the program was not completed successfully, the Judge will determine what happens next.

Court Trial: There is no jury and a judicial officer determines both the issues of law and the facts of the case. The judicial officer will determine the guilt or innocence and impose sentence.

Sentencing: The punishment imposed by the judicial officer. A sentence could include, but not limited to, fines, costs, fees, probation, behavior modification classes, juvenile work program, and community service. Sentencing can occur immediately after a finding or plea of guilty, or can be scheduled for a later date.

Review Hearings: A hearing to review the sentencing compliance status of a defendant.

Show Cause Hearing: A hearing to review the non-compliance of a defendant to determine if the defendant should be found in contempt of court or probation should be revoked.

FAILING TO COMPLY OR APPEAR

If you fail to appear for a court hearing, or fail to follow any other order of the court, several actions may take place as a result of your failure to appear, pay, or comply with a court order:

  • A warrant will be issued for your arrest;
  • Your probation may be revoked;
  • A $50 failure to appear or pay penalty will be assessed. Each additional failure to appear or pay can result in an additional $50 penalty;
  • Additional work hours may be added to your sentence;
  • If applicable, a $30 fee and an OJW hold may be placed on your driver’s license by the Department of Motor Vehicle, resulting in your inability to get your license and/or the cancelling of your driver’s license.

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