C.R.S. § 19-2.5-701: Legislative declaration.

(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a) The juvenile justice system is civil in nature and focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment;

(b) Juveniles differ in significant and substantive ways from adults; therefore, different standards for competency are necessary for juveniles and adults; and

(c) Notwithstanding the differences between adults and juveniles, age alone is not determinative of incompetence without a finding that the juvenile actually lacks the relevant capacities for competence.