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.

Publications and Resources

A Snapshot of Juvenile Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws

The Juvenile Act 2008

Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure: Delinquency Matters

Performance Guidelines for Quality and Effective Juvenile Delinquency Representation

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.

State and Local Defender Sites

The Juvenile Act 2008

The purpose of the Juvenile Act is:

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.

To provide for the care, protection, safety and wholesome mental and physical development of children coming within the provisions.

Consistent with the protection of the public interest, remove from children committing delinquent acts programs of supervision, care and rehabilitation which provide balance 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.

To achieve these purposes in a family environment whenever possible, separating the child from parents only when necessary for his/her welfare, safety or health or in the interests of public safety.

To provide means through which the Act’s provisions are executed and enforced, and in which the parties are assured a fair hearing and their constitutional and other legal rights are recognized and enforced.

View and/or print The Juvenile Act 2008.