CHAPTER 63
JUVENILE MATTERS
Subchapter
A. General Provisions
B. Jurisdiction and Custody
C. Procedures and Safeguards
D. Disposition of Children Generally
E. Dispositions Affecting Other Jurisdictions
F. Juvenile Court Judges' Commission
G. Pregnant or Postpartum Restrictions, Training, Supports and Reporting
Enactment. Chapter 63 was added July 9, 1976, P.L.586, No.142, effective 60 days from the date
of final enactment of the act of April 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53.
Saved from Suspension. Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1915.24, readopted and amended November 8,
1982, provided that Chapter 63 shall not be deemed suspended or affected by Rules
1915.1 through 1915.25 governing actions for custody, partial custody and visitation
of minor children.
Cross References. Chapter 63 is referred to in sections 1123, 1515, 4402, 4416, 5986, 62A14, 6403, 6408,
7373, 9799.27, 9799.28, 9799.56 of this title; sections 2702, 6305, 9121, 9158.5 of
Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses); sections 2740, 5324, 5503, 6114, 6303, 6315, 6341,
6368, 6370, 6373, 6375, 6381 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); section 5502 of Title
30 (Fish); section 922 of Title 34 (Game); sections 7302, 7502, 7503 of Title 67 (Public
Welfare); sections 1532, 3804 of Title 75 (Vehicles).
SUBCHAPTER A
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec.
6301. Short title and purposes of chapter.
6302. Definitions.
6303. Scope of chapter.
6304. Powers and duties of probation officers.
6304.1. Summary offenses.
6305. Masters.
6306. Costs and expenses of care of child.
6307. Inspection of court files and records.
6308. Law enforcement records.
6309. Juvenile history record information.
6310. Parental participation.
6311. Guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings.
§ 6301. Short title and purposes of chapter.
(a) Short title.--This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Juvenile Act."
(b) Purposes.--This chapter shall be interpreted and construed as to effectuate the following purposes:
(1) 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.
(1.1) To provide for the care, protection, safety and wholesome mental and physical development
of children coming within the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Consistent with the protection of the public interest, 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.
(3) 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, by doing all of the following:
(i) employing evidence-based practices whenever possible and, in the case of a delinquent
child, by using 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; and
(ii) imposing confinement only if necessary and for the minimum amount of time that is
consistent with the purposes under paragraphs (1), (1.1) and (2).
(4) To provide means through which the provisions of this chapter are executed and enforced
and in which the parties are assured a fair hearing and their constitutional and other
legal rights recognized and enforced.
(Nov. 17, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1127, No.33, eff. 120 days; Dec. 15, 1998, P.L.949,
No.126, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; Oct. 25, 2012, P.L.1655, No.204, eff. 60 days)
2012 Amendment. Act 204 amended subsec. (b).
Cross References. Section 6301 is referred to in section 6352 of this title.
Notes of Decisions
In Re: D.C.D. Appeal of: Commonwealth, 171 A.3d 727 (Pa. 2017).
· cites it 14× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301. Although the court did not specifically categorize its reasons for delinquency termination using the BARJ terminology identified in Section 6301, its reasoning on each factor can be discerned nonetheless.”
In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251 (Pa. 2013).
· cites it 2× “The factual recitation includes information from orders in the children’s dependency proceedings, which were conducted pursuant to the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq. The orders, however, were admitted into evidence in the termination proceedings in the case at bar…”
In the Interest of R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179 (Pa. 2010).
· cites it 2× “2d 1017 , in which we addressed the incorporation of concurrent planning into Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq., pursuant to the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Pub L.”
In Re Adoption of S.E.G., 901 A.2d 1017 (Pa. 2006).
· cites it 4× “" 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1) (emphasis added to indicate amended language).”
In the Interest of: J.M., a Minor, 166 A.3d 408 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
· cites it 2× “DHS contends that the comment to Rule 1705 somehow conflicts with Rule 1401, which provides: Under these rules and the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301 et seq., a determination for each case requires separate and distinct findings.”
In re T.S., 192 A.3d 1080 (Pa. 2018).
“See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1) (identifying the purpose of the Juvenile Act as, inter alia, "[t]o preserve the unity of the family whenever possible").”
In the Interest of: S.L., a Minor Appeal of: J.B., 202 A.3d 723 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
· cites it 2× “As we have explained, The Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 6301 -65, which was amended in 1998 to conform to the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act ("ASFA"), 42 U.”
In the Int. of: J.M., Appeal of: L.M.-M., 219 A.3d 645 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
· cites it 2× “2013); 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1). - 19 - J-A13041-19 In other cases, it seems this Court has taken an even more expansive view of what constitutes the main cause of action, implying that the underlying cause of action is the permanency hearing at issue.”
Commonwealth v. Jackson, 722 A.2d 1030 (Pa. 1999).
· cites it 6× “Without question, probation officers carry out an important function about juvenile rehabilitation.”
Gradwell v. Strausser, 610 A.2d 999 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992).
· cites it 4× “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301 et seq.; Helsel, supra .”
In the Interest of: N.M., A Minor, 186 A.3d 998 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 2× “In fact, recessive OI has been discovered only in individuals with lethal, severe or moderate OI.”
In the Interest of: T.J.J.M., a Minor, 190 A.3d 618 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
· cites it 3× “Pursuant to the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq. , permanency planning for dependent children is conducted under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(1) — 1 case
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b) — 81 cases
In the Interest of: J.M., a Minor, 166 A.3d 408 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“DHS contends that the comment to Rule 1705 somehow conflicts with Rule 1401, which provides: Under these rules and the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301 et seq., a determination for each case requires separate and distinct findings.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(1) — 91 cases
In Re Adoption of S.E.G., 901 A.2d 1017 (Pa. 2006).
“" 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1) (emphasis added to indicate amended language).”
In re T.S., 192 A.3d 1080 (Pa. 2018).
“See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1) (identifying the purpose of the Juvenile Act as, inter alia, "[t]o preserve the unity of the family whenever possible").”
In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251 (Pa. 2013).
“The factual recitation includes information from orders in the children’s dependency proceedings, which were conducted pursuant to the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq. The orders, however, were admitted into evidence in the termination proceedings in the case at bar…”
In the Int. of: J.M., Appeal of: L.M.-M., 219 A.3d 645 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
“2013); 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1). - 19 - J-A13041-19 In other cases, it seems this Court has taken an even more expansive view of what constitutes the main cause of action, implying that the underlying cause of action is the permanency hearing at issue.”
In the Interest of R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179 (Pa. 2010).
“2d 1017 , in which we addressed the incorporation of concurrent planning into Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301, et seq., pursuant to the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Pub L.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(2) — 32 cases
In Re: D.C.D. Appeal of: Commonwealth, 171 A.3d 727 (Pa. 2017).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301. Although the court did not specifically categorize its reasons for delinquency termination using the BARJ terminology identified in Section 6301, its reasoning on each factor can be discerned nonetheless.”
Commonwealth v. Jackson, 722 A.2d 1030 (Pa. 1999).
“Without question, probation officers carry out an important function about juvenile rehabilitation.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(3) — 14 cases
In Re: D.C.D. Appeal of: Commonwealth, 171 A.3d 727 (Pa. 2017).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301. Although the court did not specifically categorize its reasons for delinquency termination using the BARJ terminology identified in Section 6301, its reasoning on each factor can be discerned nonetheless.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(3)(1) — 1 case
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(3)(i) — 5 cases
In Re: D.C.D. Appeal of: Commonwealth, 171 A.3d 727 (Pa. 2017).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301. Although the court did not specifically categorize its reasons for delinquency termination using the BARJ terminology identified in Section 6301, its reasoning on each factor can be discerned nonetheless.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(4) — 7 cases
In the Interest of: S.L., a Minor Appeal of: J.B., 202 A.3d 723 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
“As we have explained, The Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 6301 -65, which was amended in 1998 to conform to the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act ("ASFA"), 42 U.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(i) — 1 case
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6301(b)(l) — 2 cases
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.