Legal Question in Criminal Law in Colorado

Re: shoplifting

You can try, but the prosecutor probably will just want to do it on the day of the arraignment; that's really what that date is for anyway. Your son may be offered a deferred judgment, meaning that if he does some community service and stays out of trouble for the period of the deferred (likely 9 months, though ask for 6), the case will be dismissed. But ask for something better, like a diversion program, which would keep your son out of the criminal system altogether, and would probably require him to attend a class, or write a paper.

This should be the first offer of the prosecutor, so maybe you won't have to bargain much. But don't be afraid to negotiate if it isn't the offer.

Good luck.

Re: shoplifting

The DA willlikely not even look at the case until the court date. He should get an offer for juvenile diversion. That's what you want.