Pennsylvania Juvenile Defenders

Website made possible with the generous support of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Northeast Regional Defender Center

In order to increase the capacity of the grassroots juvenile defense bar across the country, the National Center incorporated into its design the development of nine Regional Defender Centers. The Northeast Region includes the following four states: Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Helpful Links

Juvenile Law Center
National Juvenile Defender Center
The Juvenile Act of PA

State and Local Defender Sites

New Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure Approved by Pennsylvania Supreme Court

The Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently released procedural rules governing delinquency cases. The rules become effective October 1, 2005 (except for the Masters Rules which become effective April 1, 2006) and apply to all county courts of common pleas that hear matters under the Juvenile Act. These rules establish uniform practice and procedure in Pennsylvaniaâ€™s 60 common pleas courts. All local rules pertaining to juvenile delinquency will be vacated at the time these rules become effective. In Pennsylvania, there are more than 40,000 children annually involved in delinquency proceedings.

The Rules are presented in an order that tracks the juvenile system from beginning to end. Chapter One sets forth the general provisions. Chapter Two deals with the commencement of proceedings and procedures when a juvenile is arrested and detained in a detention facility. Chapter Three addresses the procedures on venue and jurisdiction, intake and informal adjustment, the filing of a petition, discovery, motions, summons and notices, consent decrees, preservation of testimony and evidence, and transfer for criminal prosecution. Chapter Four sets forth the adjudicatory procedures. Chapter Five provides procedures for the dispositional hearing. Finally, post-disposition procedures, including modifications, reviews and appeals are provided for in Chapter Six.

Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure in PDF format.

Read the highlights written by the Juvenile Law Center.

Comments regarding the proposed rules, prior to approval, were submitted by a number of juvenile defenders from across the state. To request a copy, please contact Sara Sullivan at 267-765-6884 or via e-mail.