Online Harassment: Accused of Violating Kiana Arellano’s Law in CO?
May 16, 2024
Kids make mistakes. All of them. It’s just a part of life. The parts of our brains that make decisions are not fully formed until the age of 25. Science has proven that a teenager’s brain just works differently than an adult’s.
Still, kids often face the same consequences as adults when they commit certain crimes. For instance, just this month, four teens were arrested for “tagging” dozens of buildings around Edgewater. The boys have been charged with felony criminal [...]
Teens are infamous for their lapses in judgment. In fact, it’s well-known that the teenage brain isn’t fully mature, and that teens lack the decision-making capacity of adults.
To mitigate damages of poor decisions early on, juvenile criminal records are kept confidential. This prevents juvenile offenders from being labeled as criminals in their adult lives. However, there are some exceptions to juvenile record confidentiality, two of them being background checks from college admissions offices and student aid lenders.
So when [...]
As a parent, St. Paddy’s Day doesn’t necessarily bring the same excitement that it used to. Teens and college kids throughout the country use the day as an excuse to wear green, drink loads of beer, and try to feel the “Luck of the Irish.” Parents, in contrast, get to worry about their kids making stupid decisions.
For most kids, the holiday passes largely without incident. Unfortunately, some underage kids in Colorado see their luck run out when the police [...]
“He was a good kid. I don’t know what happened.”
“She just started acting out.”
“I always knew this was coming.”
These are the kinds of things you hear from parents, teachers, and others when minors get charged with crimes. They make juvenile crime sound unstoppable. Inevitable. Inexplicable.
It’s usually not, though, and whether you are attempting to prevent your child from going down this path or working to fight charges they’re already facing, it helps to understand what factors [...]
Your child may have the good grades, the extra-curricular activities, and the impressive SAT scores, but if your college-bound teen has a criminal record, their chances of getting into college are severely limited.
The vast majority of universities and colleges—including the almost 500 institutions that use the Common Application—require applicants to provide information on their criminal history. Many institutions require prospective students to check a box admitting to previous run-ins with the law, while others perform background checks on all [...]
In an increasingly digital world, the prevalence of online harassment and cyberbullying has become a growing concern. Recognizing the need to address these issues, many states, including Colorado, have enacted legislation aimed at combatting online harassment and protecting individuals from digital threats. One such law is Kiana Arellano’s Law, named after a Colorado teenager who tragically took her own life after being relentlessly bullied online. This blog aims to explore how Kiana Arellano’s Law works to police bad online behavior, [...]
Entrapment, a legal defense strategy, asserts that individuals were induced or persuaded by law enforcement to commit a crime they otherwise would not have committed. In Colorado, this defense can be pivotal in solicitation cases, where individuals are accused of attempting to persuade others to engage in criminal activity. Understanding the concept of entrapment, its application under Colorado law, and the burden of proof required to establish it as a defense is crucial for those facing solicitation charges and their [...]
Colorado municipal courts handle a variety of cases, ranging from minor traffic violations to misdemeanor offenses. Understanding the common types of offenses tried in municipal court, along with their potential penalties and defense strategies, is essential for individuals facing legal proceedings. This blog will explore some of the most common offenses tried in Colorado municipal court, including traffic violations, petty theft, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication. We will also discuss the importance of building a strong defense with an experienced [...]