In 2017, there were 501 new cases of juvenile delinquency received in Chester County. These juvenile offenses are the responsibility of the Delinquency Court that is a part of the Chester County Family Court. Of the 501 allegations of delinquency received, there were 134 felony offenses, 365 misdemeanors, and just two minor summary offenses. The largest single category of allegations was drug offenses, which accounted for 29.1% of them.
|
Pennsylvania Juvenile Offenses in 2017 |
|
|
Non-Payment of Fines |
4,219 |
|
Theft-Related Offenses |
2,782 |
|
Simple Assault |
2,449 |
|
Possession of Drugs |
2,206 |
|
Aggravated Assault |
1,209 |
|
Weapons Offenses |
1,088 |
|
Robbery |
871 |
|
Burglary |
840 |
|
Terroristic Threats |
807 |
|
Intent to Deliver Drugs |
805 |
A juvenile in Pennsylvania is someone between the ages of 10 and 17. Juveniles who are on probation for offenses that occurred before they turned 18 may still be supervised until turning 21. The rules governing the state's juvenile courts were put in place by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1968.
Following an Arrest
Depending on the severity of the charges and safety concerns, a child who is arrested will either be released to the custody of their parents or be detained. Children may be charged as an adult for certain offenses. In these cases, your child's attorney may request that the matter be transferred to the juvenile court. The juvenile court's “intake” process involves an assessment and compiling a Case Plan that is given to the court.
Informal Supervision vs Formal Processing
In most instances, juveniles will be processed through a diversionary program without formally continuing through the court. This typically involves some form of supervision (probation) such as with informal adjustment or consent decree. Formal processing means that the juvenile will appear before the court in an adjudicatory or dispositional hearing. This is more common in serious felony cases.
Notifying the School
When a juvenile is found to be delinquent, a probation department may notify the administration at his or her school. This serves to protect students and school staff; however, details of the offense are not added to the child's school record unless the crime occurred on school grounds. If the student transfers to a different school this information may be provided to this school.
Pennsylvania Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services (BJJS)
At the state level, Pennsylvania's BJJS provide care, custody, and rehabilitation to the highest-risk juveniles who are adjudicated from the county level. The structure of the BJJS is loosely similar to the state's Department of Corrections, which handles adult offenders. The BJJS facilities range from low-security “camp” type sites such as the Youth Forestry Camp to the South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit, which is geared for long-term habitual offenders.
Expungement of Juvenile Offenses
In most cases, records of juvenile delinquency may be erased (expunged) at some future point based on the specific circumstances. Expungements may occur when:
- Six months after the juvenile completes some form of a diversionary program
- Six months after being discharged from supervision (probation)
- Upon reaching the age of 18 when all terms and conditions of a sentence have been satisfied
- Some offenses may require that five years have passed without any adjudication or conviction
Should a Defense Attorney Be Retained?
Juveniles alleged to have committed acts of delinquency should consult with a criminal defense attorney. This will help to defend against these allegations and seek to prevent having a potentially damaging criminal record.
Chester County Defense Lawyer for Juvenile Offenses
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has tremendous experience defending those accused of misdemeanor and felony charges. If your child has been arrested in Chester County you are encouraged to contact the office today at (888) 535-3686 for a consultation.
