Greeley Law Blog

Teenagers who get into legal trouble may face charges and ramification that can last for years -- or even the rest of their lives. They may not fully understand the seriousness of their actions in advance. But it does not matter if they regret it when they reach their 30s if those charges are already on their record.

To understand why this happens, take a look at these four reasons that teenagers break the law:

It's no secret that people like to drink when they go to Denver Broncos football games. You can buy beer in the stands without ever leaving your seat. Alcohol advertisements show up everywhere around a game. While drinking in the stadium may get expensive, people still do it.

At the same time, a lot of drinking happens around the games. Fans come to tailgate before kickoff and drink outside. Others go to local bars to drink and watch the game even when they do not have tickets. It feels like every weekend with a home game is basically a holiday, and people definitely enjoy it.

Every time you need to do your taxes, you feel quite nervous. You double-check the paperwork. You use the Internet to find tips and assistance. You feel conscious of the fact that you never took a tax class or prepared to do this on your own, even though that is exactly what the IRS expects you to do.

Why are you so nervous? Certainly, it is not because you worry about paying too much or too little in taxes from a financial standpoint. Your finances are secure. The reason you feel on edge is that you worry that making a mistake will send the IRS to your door, asking to see your paperwork and accusing you of tax fraud.

There's this cultural belief that just won't die about juvenile crimes being inconsequential. Thanks, in part, to pop culture stories that exaggerate the opportunities of record sealing and expungement, too many parents and teenagers seem to think crimes committed during high school are not a big concern. Sadly, allowing that inaccurate belief to guide your reaction to juvenile charges could end up having major consequences for your child in the future.

While Colorado does handle juvenile offenses in a manner that differs from adult crimes, the potential for ongoing issues related to a conviction or guilty plea exists. The courts may consider a number of options in working with your child, but you need to understand the seriousness of juvenile criminal charges to truly appreciate the options available to you.