Lawmakers study legal aid for Colo. juveniles

Colorado lawmakers are beginning to look at what kind of legal representation juvenile offenders are getting in the state judicial system.

The Colorado Juvenile Defender Coalition says about half of the juveniles in the judicial system don’t get defense attorneys. A legislative committee on Tuesday will begin studying the issue in the first of several meetings that could prompt policy changes next year.

The committee includes lawmakers, defense attorneys, judges, and victims’ rights advocates.