March 19, 2026
More than 690 Colorado children were held in juvenile detention beyond when a judge determined they could be released last year — mostly because state officials couldn’t figure out where they should go, according to a class action lawsuit filed Thursday by civil rights and disability advocates.
Advocacy lawyers allege that leaders at the Colorado Department of Human Services have known for decades about the problem of where to place youth who were detained because they were accused of a crime, but have been allowed to be released pending court appearances. These are youth who aren’t able to go back to their homes, for whatever reason, including welfare or family problems.