Source: https://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/pennsylvania/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 09:46:40+00:00

Document:
Pennsylvania provides counsel to indigent youth through county public defenders. Each county except Philadelphia is statutorily required to appoint a public defender, and the public defenders are responsible for representing youth in delinquency matters unless there is a conflict of interest. 16 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. §§ 9960.3; 9960.6. The Public Defender Act is interpreted as requiring counties (except Philadelphia County) to pay for the cost of public defenders. Counties must also pay for the appointment of conflict defenders when needed. 16 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 9960.7.
Pennsylvania has no statutorily required or recommended training requirements or standards for attorneys representing youth in delinquency proceedings. The Juvenile Defender Association of Pennsylvania (JDAP), a statewide membership organization supporting quality legal representation for youth in delinquency proceedings, has issued nonbinding Performance Guidelines for Quality and Effective Juvenile Delinquency Representation.
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. These are often promulgated at the state level, but may also be passed at the local court level instead of or in addition to statewide rules. Pennsylvania’s juvenile court rules are called the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure – Delinquency Matters.
In Pennsylvania, youth in juvenile court have the right to counsel at all stages of any proceedings, and are presumed indigent. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. §§ 6337; 6337.1(b)(1). “If a juvenile appears at any [delinquency] hearing without counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for the juvenile prior to the commencement of the hearing.” Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 151. If a youth is given a summons to appear in court, the summons must inform the child of their right to counsel, and the right to assigned counsel where the child is indigent. Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 124(A)(3).
Detention hearings. Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 242(A)(2).
Disposition hearings: The youth must be informed of “the right to counsel to prepare the [post-dispositional] motion and appeal.” Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 512(C)(1)(d).
Pennsylvania presumes that all children in delinquency cases are indigent. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6337.1(b). This presumption can be rebutted if the court determines that “the child has the financial resources to retain counsel of his choice at his own expense,” and the court cannot consider financial resources of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian in that determination. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6337.1(b)(1).
The proceeding for which waiver is sought is not one of the following:” Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 152(A).
The child’s guardian may not waive the child’s right to counsel. Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 152(C) cmt. Waiver only applies to the hearing at which the right to counsel is waived, waiver can be revoked at any time, and at subsequent hearings the court shall inform the youth of their right to counsel. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6337.1(b)(5). If a child waives the right to counsel, the court may appoint stand-by counsel. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6337.1(b)(4). The waiver of counsel only applies to that hearing; the child will be informed of their right to counsel at all subsequent hearings. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6337.1(b)(5).
When and how the court may decide to detain a child or otherwise place restrictions on the child’s freedom is defined by statute and court rules.
In Pennsylvania, a detention hearing must occur no later than 72 hours of the child being detained. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6332(a). Provisions for the detention of youth are found in 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. §§ 6324–6327, 6331, 6332, 6335; and Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 240-243.
A hearing to modify or revoke probation or another disposition. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6337.1(b)(3)(vi).
With post-dispositional motions and appeal(s). Pa. R. Juv. Ct. P. 512(C)(4).
The youngest age at which a child can be adjudicated delinquent is 10. 42 Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6302.
Juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed prior to a child’s 18th birthday; after age 18, the youth is charged in adult court. 42 Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6302.
Juvenile court can retain jurisdiction over youth until age 21, provided that the offense alleged to have been committed occurred before the youth turned 18. 42 Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6302.
Discretionary and Presumptive Waiver: Discretionary Waiver can be used for youth 14 and older accused of any felony after a hearing, if the court fines that the transfer would serve the public interest. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6355(a). Presumptive waiver exists for youth age 14 and older accused of an offense involving a deadly weapon, and youth age 15 and older for youth previously adjudicated delinquent for a felony. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6355(g).
Statutory Exclusion for the offense of murder at all ages, and for youth age 15 and older that meet statutorily-delineated offense criteria. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6302.
Once an Adult, Always an Adult. Any child already found guilty in a criminal proceeding is not entitled to a have their case transferred back to juvenile court. 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 6322(a).
The Pennsylvania Assessment was completed in 2003.

References: § 9960
 § 6337
 § 6337
 § 6337
 § 6337
 § 6337
 § 6332
 § 6337
 § 6302
 § 6302
 § 6302
 § 6355
 § 6355
 § 6302
 § 6322