Title 42, JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

(a) Review.-- (1) Upon notice being certified to the court that a child has failed to comply with a lawful sentence imposed for a summary offense, a probation officer shall review the complaints and charges of delinquency pursuant to section 6304 (relating to powers and duties of…

(a) General rule.--The governing authority may promulgate rules for the selection and appointment of masters on a full-time or part-time basis. A master shall be a member of the bar of this Commonwealth. The number and compensation of masters shall be fixed by the governing autho…

The costs and expenses of the care of the child shall be paid as provided by sections 704.1 and 704.2 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the "Public Welfare Code." (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53) 1978 Amendment. Act 53 added present section 6306 and repealed fo…

(a) General rule.--All files and records of the court in a proceeding under this chapter are open to inspection only by: (1) The judges, officers and professional staff of the court. (2) The parties to the proceeding and their counsel and representatives, but the persons in this …

(a) General rule.--Law enforcement records and files concerning a child shall be kept separate from the records and files of arrests of adults. Unless a charge of delinquency is transferred for criminal prosecution under section 6355 (relating to transfer to criminal proceedings)…

(a) Applicability of Criminal History Record Information Act.--Except for 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9105 (relating to other criminal justice information), 9112(a) and (b) (relating to mandatory fingerprinting), 9113 (relating to disposition reporting by criminal justice agencies) and 9121(b)…

(a) General rule.--In any proceeding under this chapter, a court may order a parent, guardian or custodian to participate in the treatment, supervision or rehabilitation of a child, including, but not limited to, community service, restitution, counseling, treatment and education…

(a) Appointment.--When a proceeding, including a master's hearing, has been initiated alleging that the child is a dependent child under paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (10) of the definition of "dependent child" in section 6302 (relating to definitions), the court shall appoint …

(a) General rule.--A proceeding under this chapter may be commenced: (1) By transfer of a case as provided in section 6322 (relating to transfer from criminal proceedings). (2) By the court accepting jurisdiction as provided in section 6362 (relating to disposition of resident ch…

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in 75 Pa.C.S. § 6303 (relating to rights and liabilities of minors) or in the event the child is charged with murder or any of the offenses excluded by paragraph (2)(ii) or (iii) of the definition of "delinquent act" in section 6302 (relating…

(a) General rule.-- (1) Before a petition is filed, the probation officer or other officer of the court designated by it, subject to its direction, shall, in the case of a dependent child where the jurisdiction of the court is premised upon the provisions of paragraph (1), (2), (…

A child may be taken into custody: (1) Pursuant to an order of the court under this chapter. Prior to entering a protective custody order removing a child from the home of the parent, guardian or custodian, the court must determine that to allow the child to remain in the home is…

A child taken into custody shall not be detained or placed in shelter care prior to the hearing on the petition unless his detention or care is required to protect the person or property of others or of the child or because the child may abscond or be removed from the jurisdictio…

(a) General rule.--A person taking a child into custody, with all reasonable speed and without first taking the child elsewhere, shall: (1) notify the parent, guardian or other custodian of the apprehension of the child and his whereabouts; (2) release the child to his parents, g…

(a) General rule.--A child alleged to be delinquent may be detained only in: (1) A licensed foster home or a home approved by the court. (2) A facility operated by a licensed child welfare agency or one approved by the court. (3) A detention home, camp, center or other facility f…

(a) Referral to county agency.--The offenses provided under subsection (b) shall be referred to a county agency under 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6362 (relating to responsibilities of county agency for child protective services) and 6375 (relating to county agency requirements for general prot…

The jurisdiction of a court in a proceeding under this chapter shall be concurrent with that of a Federal court sitting in this Commonwealth over proceedings involving a violation of Federal law committed by a child on a military installation of the United States Department of De…

If a child is brought before the court or delivered to a detention or shelter care facility designated by the court, the intake or other authorized officer of the court shall immediately make an investigation and release the child unless it appears that his detention or shelter c…

(a) General rule.--An informal hearing shall be held promptly by the court or master and not later than 72 hours after the child is placed in detention or shelter care to determine whether his detention or shelter care is required under section 6325 (relating to detention of chil…

(a) General rule.--Upon application of a child, parent, guardian, custodian, probation officer, district attorney, or other party to the proceedings, the court, master, or the clerk of the court shall issue, or the court or master may on its own motion issue, subpoenas requiring …

(a) Contents of petition.--A petition, which shall be verified and may be on information and belief, may be brought by any person including a law enforcement officer. It shall set forth plainly: (1) The facts which bring the child within the jurisdiction of the court and this cha…

(a) General rule.--After the petition has been filed alleging the child to be dependent or delinquent, the court shall fix a time for hearing thereon, which, if the child is in detention or shelter care shall not be later than ten days after the filing of the petition. Except as …

(a) General rule.--Hearings under this chapter shall be conducted by the court without a jury, in an informal but orderly manner, and separate from other proceedings not included in section 6303 (relating to scope of chapter). (b) Functions of district attorney.--The district att…

(a) General rule.--The court shall direct the county agency or juvenile probation department to provide the child's foster parent, preadoptive parent, relative providing care for the child or a potential kinship care resource under 67 Pa.C.S. § 7507(c) (relating to Kinship Care P…

(a) Use of restraints.--Except as provided for in subsection (b), restraints such as handcuffs, chains, shackles, irons or straitjackets shall be removed prior to the commencement of a court proceeding. (b) Exception.--Restraints may be used during a court proceeding if the court…

Except as provided under this section and in section 6311 (relating to guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings), a party is entitled to representation by legal counsel at all stages of any proceedings under this chapter and if he is without financial resources or otherwi…

(a) Children in dependency proceedings.--Legal counsel shall be provided for a child who is alleged or has been found to be a dependent child in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure. (b) Children in delinquency proceedings.-- (1) In delinquency cases…

(a) General rule.--A party is entitled to the opportunity to introduce evidence and otherwise be heard in his own behalf and to cross-examine witnesses. (b) Self-incrimination.--A child charged with a delinquent act need not be a witness against or otherwise incriminate himself. …

(a) General rule.--If the allegations of a petition are admitted by a party or notice of hearing under section 6355 (relating to transfer to criminal proceedings) has been given, the court, prior to the hearing on need for treatment or disposition, may direct that a social study …

(a) General rule.--At any time after the filing of a petition and before the entry of an adjudication order, the court may, on motion of the district attorney or of counsel for the child, suspend the proceedings, and continue the child under supervision in his own home, under ter…

(a) General rule.--After hearing the evidence on the petition the court shall make and file its findings as to whether the child is a dependent child. If the petition alleges that the child is delinquent, within seven days of hearing the evidence on the petition, the court shall …

(a) General rule.--The court may appoint or discharge a CASA at any time during a proceeding or investigation regarding dependency under this chapter. (b) Immunity.--A court-appointed special advocate shall be immune from civil liability for actions taken in good faith to carry o…

(a) General rule.--If the child is found to be a dependent child the court may make any of the following orders of disposition best suited to the safety, protection and physical, mental, and moral welfare of the child: (1) Permit the child to remain with his parents, guardian, or…

(a) Order required.--Notwithstanding sections 6324 (relating to taking into custody) and 6351(a) (relating to disposition of dependent child), if a county agency petitions the court for removal of a child because the foster parent has been convicted of an offense set forth in 23 …

(a) General rule.--If the child is found to be a delinquent child the court may make any of the following orders of disposition determined to be consistent with the protection of the public interest and best suited to the child's treatment, supervision, rehabilitation and welfare…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, drug and alcohol treatment records or related information regarding a child who is alleged or who has been found to be dependent or delinquent, or the child's parent, shall be released to the county agency, court or juvenile probation o…

(a) Scope.--This section shall apply to court-approved interagency information-sharing agreements entered into in accordance with this section. Nothing in this section shall preclude the sharing of information not otherwise prohibited by law. (b) General rule.--The contents of co…

(a) General rule.--No child shall initially be committed to an institution for a period longer than four 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…

(a) General rule.--An order of disposition or other adjudication in a proceeding under this chapter is not a conviction of crime and does not impose any civil disability ordinarily resulting from a conviction or operate to disqualify the child in any civil service application or …

(a) General rule.--After a petition has been filed alleging delinquency based on conduct which is designated a crime or public offense under the laws, including local ordinances, of this Commonwealth, the court before hearing the petition on its merits may rule that this chapter …

If, at a dispositional hearing of a child found to be a delinquent or at any hearing, the evidence indicates that the child may be subject to commitment or detention under the provisions of the act of October 20, 1966 (3rd Sp.Sess., P.L.96, No.6), known as the "Mental Health and …

A custodian to whom legal custody has been given by the court under this chapter has the right to the physical custody of the child, the right to determine the nature of the care and treatment of the child, including ordinary medical care and the right and duty to provide for the…

(a) General rule.--A child who has been found to be delinquent for an act of sexual violence which if committed by an adult would be a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 3121 (relating to rape), 3123 (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault)…

(a) General rule.--If the court finds that a child who has been adjudged to have committed a delinquent act or to be dependent is or is about to become a resident of another state which has adopted the Uniform Juvenile Court Act, or a substantially similar law which includes prov…

(a) General rule.--If a juvenile court of another state which has adopted the Uniform Juvenile Court Act, or a substantially similar law which includes provisions corresponding to section 6361 (relating to disposition of nonresident child) and this section, requests a court of th…

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of this chapter governing dispositions and to the extent that funds are available the court may place a child in the custody of a suitable person in another state. On obtaining the written consent of a juvenile court of another state w…