In Weld County, after your child is arrested, they will be taken by police to the Platte Valley Youth Services Center in Greeley, Colorado. PVYSC is a Greeley juvenile detention center that takes care of youths from 12 different counties in Northern Colorado: Larimer, Jackson, Boulder, Weld, Adams, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma, and Kit Carson. This is a co-ed facility that holds youths aged 10 – 17, and they also serve long term sentenced children and teens between the ages of 12 and 20.
What Happens When a Juvenile is Arrested in Greeley?
When your juvenile child or teenager is arrested in Greeley, they will be taken to the Platte Valley Youth Services Center, located in Northern Greeley. A detention hearing will take place within the next 48 hours of the arrest. Similar to court for adults, a judge will review the charges against the juvenile, the child’s criminal history, and other relevant factors, such as community risk. If the crime is “bad” enough, and the child is at least 16 years old, the District Attorney may even request a Direct File against the juvenile. A direct file is the DA asking for the juvenile to be charged as an adult and face adult level consequences upon conviction. This does not occur in every juvenile case, but it can be done. Regardless, hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is essential after your child is arrested and charged with a crime.
How to Contact Your Weld or Morgan County Teen at the Platte Valley Youth Services Center
Depending on you child’s behavioral status at PVYSC, there are a few ways that family can go about contacting their loved one. The easiest way to contact “students” at the Platte Valley Youth Service Center is through phone calls. Phones are readily available to the children and teens, and staff members also encourage parents and other family members to call their loved one when they can.
Letters are another good way for family to remain in contact with the juvenile in the Platte Valley detention center. Each child at the center is provided enough postage to send two letters a week. They are able to send more if outside funds permit. If families come to visit, they are able to bring extra stamps and envelops for their loved ones.
Finally, families are able to visit their children at PVYSC. If your child has shown lots of positive behavior at the detention center, they are able to get up to 3 visits a week. However, the Platte Valley Youth Services Center maintains strict rules about who can visit, when they can visit, and what they are allowed to bring inside the facility. Read more detail about that here.
What Does the PVYSC Consider Contraband for Weld County and Philips County Teens?
Since the PVYSC is a juvenile detention facility focusing on rehabilitation of these kids, they keep strict rules about contraband for Philips County teens. If you plan on visiting a loved one here, then refrain from bringing any of the following inside:
- Tobacco products
- Belt buckles
- Steel toe boots
- Jewelry and other metal items
- Cell phones
- Cameras
- Hats
- Coats
- Purses
- Lighters
- Any other items the Shift Supervisors deems as inappropriate
If your child is facing false allegations that have them kept in the Platte Valley Youth Services Center, contact a criminal defense attorney at the O’Malley Law Office immediately. It could be the difference in your child returning home or not.
Call 970-616-6009 or fill out the Get Help Now form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced juvenile crimes defense lawyer in the Greeley and Weld County area.
Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Janine Robinson on Unsplash