§ 19-2.5-301 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 19-2.5-301

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 19: Children's
• Art.: The Colorado Juvenile Justice System

Text

The general assembly declares that the
placement of children and juveniles in a detention facility exacts a negative impact
on the mental and physical well-being of the child or juvenile, and such detention
may make it more likely that the child or juvenile will reoffend. Children and
juveniles who are detained are more likely to penetrate deeper into the juvenile
justice system than similar children or juveniles who are not detained, and
community-based alternatives to detention should be based on the principle of
using the least-restrictive setting possible and returning a child or juvenile to his or
her home, family, or other responsible adult whenever possible consistent with
public safety. It is the intent of the general assembly in adopting section 19-2.5-304
and amending sections 19-2.5-303, 19-2.5-305, and 19-2.5-1404 to limit the use of
detention to only those children and juveniles who pose a substantial risk of serious
harm to others or that are a flight risk from prosecution.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2021: Entire article added with relocations, (SB 21-059), ch. 136, p. 573, � 2, effective October 1.