Title 14, Title 14 and Dependent Children

(a) In every case in which trial is by jury in the family court, in accordance with the provisions of § 14-1-47, the trial shall be held in the same manner and subject to the same provisions as jury trials in criminal prosecution in the superior court. (b) The presiding justice o…

The chief judge of the family court, in the selection of petit jurors for family court service, shall be empowered to exercise all powers which the presiding judge of the superior court has in the selection of petit jurors in criminal cases to be tried before the superior court. …

In proceedings under this chapter, no court or witness fees shall be taxed or allowed against any party to a petition, and no salaried officer of the state, or of any city or town, shall be entitled to receive any fee for the service of process or for attendance in court in any o…

(a) The court shall, as set forth in this chapter, have exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings: (1) Concerning any child residing or being within the state who is: (i) Delinquent; (ii) Wayward; (iii) Dependent; (iv) Neglected; or (v) Mentally disabled; (2) Concerning adop…

In any proceeding under this chapter where the age of a person is in dispute, the person whose age is in dispute shall prove his or her age to the reasonable satisfaction of the court.

(a) The family court shall have jurisdiction to make factual findings under this section and to award legal custody or appoint a legal guardian of a person under the age of twenty-one (21) years to be used solely in conjunction with a petition to the United States Citizenship and…

(a) The court may cause any person coming under its jurisdiction to be examined by a licensed physician who is expert in physical diagnosis or in neuropsychiatry. (b) Whenever a child who has been brought before the family court appears to be in need of medical or surgical care, …

(a) From any final decree, judgment, order, decision, or verdict of the family court, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, there shall be an appeal to the supreme court, which appeal, in all civil cases except paternity proceedings under chapter 8 of title 15, sh…

The pendency of an appeal in the case of a child shall not suspend the order or decree of the family court, nor shall it discharge the child from the custody of the court or of the person, institution, or agency to whose care the child shall have been committed, unless by writ of…

The attorney general or any attorney in his or her department designated by him or her shall, upon request of the petitioner, when directed by the court, appear and act for the petitioner in any criminal case under the provisions of this chapter; and the public defender shall, at…

It is made the duty of every state, town, or municipal official or department, including, but not limited to, the department of children, youth, and families, the department of health, the department of human services, the department of elementary and secondary education, the off…

The family court, in cooperation with the department of children, youth, and families, shall develop policies for the purpose of identifying procedural safeguards to protect the rights of children in the process of discharge or emancipation and/or disposition of a petition.

(a) When the court shall have obtained jurisdiction over any child prior to the child having attained the age of eighteen (18) years by the filing of a petition alleging that the child is wayward or delinquent pursuant to § 14-1-5, the child shall, except as specifically provided…

(a) In any case where a court shall have obtained jurisdiction of a juvenile having attained the age of seventeen (17) years pursuant to 2007 P.L. 73, Article 22, section 1: (i) All police records relating to the arrest, detention, apprehension and disposition of the juvenile and…

In any case in which the court shall have jurisdiction of a juvenile pursuant to this chapter, the court shall consider placing the juvenile in the least restrictive appropriate facility or program.

The court shall have the power to adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of the court not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.

This chapter shall be liberally construed to accomplish the purposes sought in it.

(a) All police records relating to the arrest, detention, apprehension, and disposition of any juveniles shall be kept in files separate and apart from the arrest records of adults and shall be withheld from public inspection, but the police report relating to the arrest or deten…

(a) Prior to authorizing the placement of a child entrusted to the control of the department of children, youth, and families and in an out-of-state child caring facility, other than the home of a relative, the department shall petition the family court for a placement hearing. T…

Upon written motion by the victim of a crime or his or her attorney, the family court may, in its discretion, and upon good cause shown, divulge the name and address of the juvenile accused of committing the crime solely for the purpose of allowing the victim to commence a civil …

(a) If the court finds that a child is delinquent, by reason of having violated any provision of chapter 28 of title 21 or is wayward in accordance with § 14-1-3(11)(i) — (11)(v), the court, in addition to any other penalty or punishment imposed, may prepare and send to the divis…

If a child fails to make court ordered restitution within the time period provided for in an order of the court, a judge may prepare and send to the division of motor vehicles an order of revocation of the driving privileges of the child. The judge may order the revocation to be …

(a) A videotape recording made by the department of children, youth, and families, a law enforcement officer, or a hospital, of an interview of or statement made by a child who is the subject of any petition filed by the department pursuant to §§ 40-11-7, 14-1-11, and/or 15-7-7, …

In any custody and/or termination trial and/or a hearing on a motion or probable cause hearing where a petition has been filed by the department of children, youth, and families in accordance with §§ 14-1-11, 40-11-7 and/or 15-7-7 in the family court, the court may, in its discre…

(a) If any child is charged with an offense which would be punishable by life imprisonment if committed by an adult, that child, upon motion of the attorney general, shall be brought before the court and the court shall conduct a waiver hearing pursuant to § 14-1-7.1. (b) Any chi…

(a) Upon a motion by the attorney general pursuant to § 14-1-7, the court shall conduct a hearing at which it shall be the duty of the attorney general to produce evidence to enable the court to determine: (1) That probable cause exists to believe that the offense charged has bee…

(a) Upon a motion by the attorney general pursuant to § 14-1-7, the court shall conduct a hearing at which it shall be the duty of the attorney general to produce evidence to enable the court to determine: (1) Probable cause exists to believe that the offense charged has been com…

(a) Upon a finding by the court that the child is subject to certification pursuant to § 14-1-7.2, the court shall afford the child a right to a jury trial, and upon conviction for the offense charged, the court shall sentence the child in accordance with one of the following alt…

A child sixteen (16) years of age or older who has been found delinquent of having committed one felony offense after the age of sixteen (16) involving the unlawful sale, distribution, manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or deliver a…

No proceeding arising from an offense committed prior to April 11, 1990, shall be affected by the repeal or modification of the statutes in effect at the time an offense was committed, but proceedings may be instituted, continued, and brought to final determination in accord with…

If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are decla…

The court shall, as set forth in this chapter, have exclusive original jurisdiction to determine all cases of adults involved in matters arising out of § 14-1-5(3) and all cases of adults charged with: (1) Being responsible for or contributing to the delinquency, waywardness, or …

If an adult is charged with an offense over which the family court may have jurisdiction by virtue of § 14-1-8, 11-9-9, or 8-10-4, the court may waive jurisdiction over the adult and order that adult held for trial under the regular procedure of the court which would otherwise ha…