Yes, if at all possible. Colorado public defenders simply do not have the time and resources to advocate zealously for each child. And the stakes of each juvenile case is extremely high. In addition to judicial penalties, juvenile offenders face such consequences as expulsion from school and disqualification from scholarship programs. But an experienced private attorney will fight in pursuit of the best possible outcome in an effort to minimize any harmful long-term consequences of the case on the child's future. Simply put, private legal representation ups the odds for a better resolution.