Guide to Juvenile Arrest Warrant Process

Unless there is an imminent public safety concern, all juvenile arrest warrants must be submitted to the DA's office for review and filing, regardless of the charge level.

It is generally best practice to consult with a Juvenile DA early to determine the most appropriate course of action, as many cases may qualify for a DA-issued summons rather than requiring an arrest warrant.

1. Standard Juvenile Filing Process

Step 1: Schedule and Prepare for Submission

Step 2: DA Review and Filing Decision

After review, the filing DA will take one of the following actions:

1. Request Additional Investigation: Confer with law enforcement and ask for more information.
2. Issue Arrest Warrant: Accept charges, file a Petition in Delinquency, and an arrest warrant will issue.
3. Issue Summons: Accept charges, file a Petition in Delinquency, and issue a summons to appear instead of a warrant.
4. Refer to Diversion: Refer the case to the juvenile diversion program.
5. Decline Charges (No File): Issue a formal no file outlining the reasons why charges are being declined.

2. In Custody (Arrest) of a Juvenile

Action 1: HUB Contact (Immediate)

If a juvenile is taken into custody, the officer must immediately contact the HUB.

• Call the HUB at (970) 498-6999 ext. 7.

The HUB will screen the case and determine the juvenile's placement:

• Detained at Platte Valley or Prairie Vista, OR
• Sent home with family on home lock down.

Action 2: Follow-Up Filing

After the juvenile arrest, you must follow Step 1: Schedule and Prepare for Submission above and notify the DA's office that you need to file a juvenile filing.

3. Urgent Juvenile Arrest Warrants

Use this process ONLY when there is a significant and imminent public safety concern.