THE COURTS
Title 237—JUVENILE RULES
[ 237 PA. CODE CHS. 3 AND 8 ]
In Re: Amendment of Rules 312 and 800 of the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure; Supreme Court Rules; Doc. No. 492
[40 Pa.B. 1073]
[Saturday, February 27, 2010]
Order Per Curiam:
And Now, this 12th day of February, 2010, upon the recommendation of the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee; the proposal having been published for public comment before adoption at 39 Pa.B. 3319 (July 4, 2009), in the Atlantic Reporter (Second Series Advance Sheets, Vol. 971, No. 1, June 26, 2009), and on the Supreme Court's web page, and an Explanatory Report to be published with this Order:
It Is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that the modifications to Rules 312 and 800 of the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure are approved as follows.
This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(b), and shall be effective immediately.
Annex A
TITLE 237. JUVENILE RULES
PART I. RULES
Subpart A. DELINQUENCY MATTERS
CHAPTER 3. PRE-ADJUDICATORY PROCEDURES
PART B. INTAKE AND INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT Rule 312. Informal Adjustment.
A. Participation. At any time prior to the filing of a petition, the juvenile probation officer may informally adjust the allegation(s) if it appears:
1) an adjudication would not be in the best interest of the public and the juvenile;
2) the juvenile and the juvenile's guardian consent to informal adjustment with knowledge that consent is not obligatory; and
3) the admitted facts bring the case within the jurisdiction of the court.
B. Completion.
1) If the juvenile successfully completes the informal adjustment, the case shall be dismissed and prosecution is barred.
2) If the juvenile does not successfully complete the informal adjustment, a petition shall be filed.
Comment [Informal] Pursuant to paragraph (A), informal adjustments may not occur after the filing of a petition. See Rule 800(12), which suspends 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(a) only to the extent that it conflicts with this rule. See also Commonwealth v. J.H.B., 760 A.2d 27 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000). [See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(a).]
The juvenile probation officer or other agencies may give ''counsel and advice'' as to the informal adjustment. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(b). ''Counsel and advice'' may include referral to a social service agency or other conditions as agreed to by the juvenile probation officer and the juvenile.
A juvenile's participation in an informal adjustment may not exceed six months, unless extended by order of the court for an additional period not to exceed three months. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(c). Any incriminating statements made by the juvenile to the juvenile probation officer and in the discussions or conferences incident thereto are not to be used against the juvenile over objection in any criminal proceeding or hearing under the Juvenile Act. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(e).
Prior to informally adjusting the written allegation, the juvenile probation officer is to give the victim an opportunity to comment. In addition, the victim is to be notified of the final outcome of the hearing. See Victim's Bill of Rights, 18 P. S. § 11.201 et seq.
If a petition is filed because the juvenile has not successfully completed the requirements of an informal adjustment, the procedures of Rule 330 are to be followed.
Official Note: Rule 312 adopted April 1, 2005, effective October 1, 2005. Amended February 12, 2010, effective immediately.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the provisions of Rule 312 published with the Court's Order at 35 Pa.B. 2214 (April 16, 2005).
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 312 published with the Court's Order at 40 Pa.B. 1073, 1075 (February 27, 2010).
CHAPTER 8. SUSPENSIONS Rule 800. Suspensions of Acts of Assembly.
This rule provides for the suspension of the following Acts of Assembly that apply to delinquency proceedings only:
1) The Act of November 21, 1990, P. L. 588, No. 138, § 1, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8934, which authorizes the sealing of search warrant affidavits, and which is implemented by Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 211, through Pa.R.J.C.P. Rule 105, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Pa.R.Crim.P. Rules 205, 206, and 211.
2) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6335(c), which provides for the issuance of arrest warrants if the juvenile may abscond or may not attend or be brought to a hearing, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rules 124, 140, and 364, which require a summoned person to fail to appear and the court to find that sufficient notice was given.
3) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6336(c), which provides that if a proceeding is not recorded, full minutes shall be kept by the court, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 127(A), which requires all proceedings to be recorded, except for detention hearings.
4) The Public Defender Act, Act of December 2, 1968, P. L. 1144, No. 358, § 1 et seq. as amended through Act of December 10, 1974, P. L. 830, No. 277, § 1, 16 P. S. 9960.1 et seq., which requires the Public Defender to represent all juveniles who for lack of sufficient funds are unable to employ counsel is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rules 150 and 151, which requires separate counsel if there is a conflict of interest.
5) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6337, which provides that counsel must be provided unless the guardian is present and waives counsel for the juvenile, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 152, which does not allow a guardian to waive the juvenile's right to counsel.
6) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6305(b), which provides that the court may direct hearings in any case or class or cases be conducted by the master, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 187, which allows masters to hear only specific classes of cases.
7) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6321, which provides for commencement of a proceeding by the filing of a petition, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 200, which provides the submission of a written allegation shall commence a proceeding.
8) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303(b), which provides that a district judge or judge of the minor judiciary may not detain a juvenile, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 210, which allows Magisterial District Judges to issue an arrest warrant, which may lead to detention in limited circumstances.
9) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6334, which provides that any person may bring a petition, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rules 231, 233, and 330, which provide for a person other than a law enforcement officer to submit a private written allegation to the juvenile probation office or an attorney for the Commonwealth, if elected for approval; and that only a juvenile probation officer or attorney for the Commonwealth may file a petition.
10) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6304(a)(2), which provides that probation officers may receive and examine complaints for the purposes of commencing proceedings, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rules 231 and 330, which provide that the District Attorney may file a certification that requires an attorney for the Commonwealth to initially receive and approve written allegations and petitions.
11) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6331, which provides for the filing of a petition with the court within twenty four hours or the next business day of the admission of the juvenile to detention or shelter care, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with the filing of a petition within twenty-four hours or the next business day from the detention hearing if the juvenile is detained under Rule 242.
12) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(a)(2), which provides that a delinquent child may be referred for an informal adjustment by a juvenile probation officer, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 312, which provides that only an alleged delinquent child may be referred for an informal adjustment because the filing of informal adjustment shall occur prior to the filing of a petition.
13) Section 5720 of the Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, Act of October 4, 1978, P. L. 831, No. 164, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5720, is suspended as inconsistent with Rule 340 only insofar as the section may delay disclosure to a juvenile seeking discovery under Rule 340(B)(6); and Section 5721(b) of the Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5721(b), is suspended only insofar as the time frame for making a motion to suppress is concerned, as inconsistent with Rules 347 and 350.
[13)] 14) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6340(c), which provides consent decree shall remain in force for six months unless the child is discharged sooner by probation services with the approval of the court, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with the requirement of Rule 373 that a motion for early discharge is to be made to the court.
[14)] 15) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6335, which provides for a hearing within ten days of the juvenile's detention unless the exceptions of (a)(1) & (2) or (f) are met, is suspended only insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rule 391, which provides for an additional ten days of detention if a notice of intent for transfer to criminal proceedings has been filed.
[15)] 16) The Act of July 9, 1976, P. L. 586, No. 142, § 2, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6353(a), which requires dispositional review hearings to be held at least every nine months, is suspended only insofar as it is inconsistent with the requirement of Rule 610, which requires dispositional review hearings to be held at least every six months when a juvenile is removed from the home.
Comment The authority for suspension of Acts of Assembly is granted to the Supreme Court by Article V § 10(c) of the Pennsylvania Constitution. See also Rule 102.
Official Note: Rule 800 adopted April 1, 2005, effective October 1, 2005. Amended December 30, 2005, effective immediately. Amended March 23, 2007, effective August 1, 2007. Amended February 26, 2008, effective June 1, 2008. Amended March 19, 2009, effective June 1, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 1614. Amended February 12, 2010, effective immediately.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 800 published with the Court's Order at 36 Pa.B. 186, 187 (January 14, 2006).
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 800 published with the Court's Order at 37 Pa.B. 1483, 1485 (April 7, 2007).
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 800 published with the Court's Order at 38 Pa.B. 1142, 1145 (March 8, 2008).
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 800 published with the Court's Order at 39 Pa.B. 1614, 1619 (April 4, 2009).
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 800 published with the Court's Order at 40 Pa.B. 1073, 1075 (February 27, 2010).
INTRODUCTION The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has adopted the proposed changes to Rules 312 and 800 with this Recommendation. The changes are effective immediately.
EXPLANATORY REPORT
FEBRUARY 2010The additions to the Comment of Rule 312 and Rule 800 (12) clarify that an informal adjustment may only occur prior to the filing of a petition. An informal adjustment is a diversionary process used to dispose of cases that should not come before the court. If a case should go to court, a petition is filed and the normal procedures of a case will follow.
As drafted, the Juvenile Act provides that a delinquent child may be referred for an informal adjustment by a juvenile probation officer. 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(a)(2). A child is not delinquent until there has been an adjudication of delinquency. If a child is not delinquent until after the adjudication of delinquency, then an informal adjustment would occur after that determination. However, this is not the intent of the diversionary process or an informal adjustment.
The Juvenile Act at 42 Pa.C.S. § 6323(a)(2) is suspended to clarify that alleged delinquents may be referred for an informal adjustment. Once a petition is filed, informal adjustment is precluded as provided in Rule 312. See Rule 800(12).
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 10-353. Filed for public inspection February 26, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]
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