Source: https://charleslaw.us/juvenile-matters/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 10:08:05+00:00

Document:
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania places paramount importance upon the care, protection, safety and wholesome mental and physical development of children.
What is the Juvenile Act?
In the Juvenile Act (42 Pa.C.S. §6301 et. seq.) the Pennsylvania legislature has enacted legislation intended to preserve the unity of the family whenever possible or to provide another alternative permanent family when the unity of the family cannot be maintained.
Consistent with the protection of the public interest, the Juvenile Act is intended to provide for children committing delinquent acts programs of supervision, care and rehabilitation which provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed and the development of competencies to enable children to become responsible and productive members of the community. 42 Pa.C.S. §6301.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania attempts to achieve the foregoing purposes in a family environment whenever possible, separating the child from parents only when necessary for his welfare, safety or health or in the interests of public safety.
In the case of a delinquent child, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania uses the least restrictive intervention that is consistent with the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, and the rehabilitation, supervision and treatment needs of the child. On those occasions when confinement is necessary, the Commonwealth imposes confinement only for the minimum amount of time that is consistent with the above-described purposes. 42 Pa.C.S. §6301.
Trust the Skillful and Experienced Trial Attorneys at Charles Law Offices to help you with your family member’s Juvenile Case!
If your family member is a juvenile who has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, it is vitally important that you secure trained and experienced trial counsel as soon as possible so that all of the juvenile’s federal and state constitutional and legal rights are protected, and his or her chances for achieving a favorable outcome are maximized.
Since the 1970’s, Attorneys Fredrick E. Charles and Dennis G. Charles of the Charles Law Offices have zealously and effectively guarded the legal rights and interests of juveniles arrested and charged with serious criminal offenses. Their excellent legal training, pretrial investigation, preparation, trial and appellate skills, coupled with their access to, and use of, the finest forensic experts in the field, have enabled them for almost 40 years to achieve successful outcomes in juvenile matters, including multiple cases involving charges of murder and attempted criminal homicide.
What is a “Delinquent Act” under the Juvenile Act?
The term “delinquent act” means an act designated a crime under the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or of another state if the act occurred in that state, or under Federal law, or under local ordinances, or an act which constitutes indirect criminal contempt relating to protection from abuse.
What is a “Delinquent Child” under the Juvenile Act?
Are law enforcement records and files concerning a child available for public inspection?
In general, law enforcement records and files concerning a child shall be kept separate from the records and files of arrests of adults. The records and files of a child shall NOT be open to public inspection or their contents disclosed to the public. Exceptions to this rule exist, however.
For example, the contents of law enforcement records and files concerning a child may be disclosed to the public if the child has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of an act or acts committed when the child was 14 years of age or older and the conduct would be considered a felony if committed by an adult.
What procedures and safeguards are followed in juvenile matters?
An informal hearing must be held promptly by the court or juvenile hearing master not later than 72 hours after the child is placed in detention or shelter care. The court or juvenile hearing master must determine whether the child’s detention or shelter care is required and whether probable cause exists that the child has committed a delinquent act.
Reasonable notice of the informal hearing, either oral or written, stating the time, place, and purpose of the hearing must be given to the child and, if they can be found, to his parents, guardian or other custodian. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, the court or master must inform the parties of certain legal rights including, without limitation, the right to counsel and the right to remain silent with respect to any allegations of delinquency. 42 Pa.C.S. §6332.
What is an ``In Camera`` Juvenile Hearing?
Juvenile adjudication hearings are conducted by the court without a jury, in an informal but orderly manner. Upon the request of the court, the district attorney presents the evidence in support of the petition and otherwise conducts the proceedings on behalf of the Commonwealth.
When is a Juvenile hearing open to the general public?
What are the Juvenile's basic rights in Delinquency Proceedings?
What is an ``Adjudication`` Hearing?
An Adjudication of Delinquency or an Order of Disposition is NOT a “Conviction” of Crime.
Placing the child on probation under supervision of the probation officer of the court, or the court of another state, under conditions and limitations the court prescribes.
Committing the child to an institution, youth development center, camp, or other facility for delinquent children operated under the direction or supervision of the court or other public authority and approved by the Department of Public Welfare.
If the child is 12 years of age or older, committing the child to an institution operated by the Department of Public Welfare.
Ordering payment by the child of reasonable amounts of money as fines, costs, fees or restitution as deemed appropriate as part of the plan of rehabilitation considering the nature of the acts committed and the earning capacity of the child, including a contribution to a restitution fund. The court shall retain jurisdiction until there has been full compliance with the order or until the delinquent child attains 21 years of age.
A child shall not be committed or transferred to a penal institution or other facility used primarily for the execution of sentences of adults convicted of a crime. 42 Pa.C.S. §6352(b). The order of disposition is intended to provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, and the development of competencies to enable the child to become a responsible and productive member of the community. 42 Pa.C.S. §6352(a).
How long may a child be committed to an institution?
The Juvenile Act places time limitations on the commitment of a child to an institution. In general, no child shall initially be committed to an institution for a period longer than four (4) years or a period longer than he could have been sentenced by the court if he had been convicted of the same offense as an adult, whichever is less. The initial commitment may be extended for a similar period of time, or modified, if the court finds after hearing that the extension or modification will effectuate the original purpose for which the order was entered. 42 Pa.C.S. §6353.
How long does the child remain subject to the juvenile court’s jurisdiction?
The juvenile court lawfully may retain jurisdiction over a juvenile only until he or she reaches the age of 21 years. The reason for this limitation on the court’s jurisdiction is that a “child,” for purposes of the Juvenile Act, is defined as an individual who (1) is under the age of 18 years; or (2) is under the age of 21 years who committed an act of delinquency before reaching the age of 18 years. 42 Pa.C.S. §6302. The “act of delinquency” referenced in this definition is to an act that occurred prior to the person’s 18th birthday. Otherwise, the “act” would have led not to delinquency proceedings, but to criminal charges as an adult. (See In re J.M., a Juvenile, 42 A.3d 348 (Super.Ct. 2012)).
May the court transfer the juvenile case to adult criminal court before hearing the merits of the juvenile petition?
May a juvenile convicted of 1st Degree Murder be Sentenced to Mandatory Life Imprisonment Without Parole?
No. In Miller v. Alabama , 132 S.Ct. 2455 (2012), the United States Supreme Court held that sentencing a juvenile to mandatory life imprisonment without parole is unconstitutional. Recently, in Montgomery v. Louisiana, 136 S.Ct. 718 (2016), the United States Supreme Court held that the holding in Miller v. Alabama applies retroactively.
If your family member or friend is a juvenile who has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, Charles Law Offices can help!
The lawyers at Charles Law Offices will protect all of his or her federal and state constitutional and legal rights throughout all stages of the criminal prosecution. Give Charles Law Offices a call at 610-437-7064, or fill out the questionnaire on the right side of the screen. Our staff of highly trained, knowledgeable and experienced attorneys is here 24/7 to guide you through this troubled time, and help you with all of your juvenile law questions and issues.
Trust the legal knowledge, training, trial skills and unsurpassed experience of Attorneys Fredrick E. Charles and Dennis G. Charles of the Charles Law Offices to carefully analyze the case and zealously represent and defend the juvenile’s legal interests at the highest level.
Know a juvenile who has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense?

References: §6301
 §6301
 §6301
 §6332
 §6352
 §6352
 §6353
 §6302
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