With the passage of Act 33, Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system is guided by the following purpose of The Juvenile Act at §6301:

“Consistent with 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.”

If a child is found to be a delinquent child, the court is now required by §6352 to make a disposition determined to be:

“Consistent with the protection of the public interest and best suited to the child’s treatment, supervision, rehabilitation and welfare, which disposition shall, as appropriate to the individual circumstances of the child’s case, provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed ad the development of competencies to enable the child to become a responsible and productive member of the community.”

The Juvenile Act, as amended by Act 33, has established a new mission for Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system.

Community Protection
The citizens of Pennsylvania have a right to safe and secure communities.

Accountability
In Pennsylvania, when a juvenile commits a crime, an obligation to the victim and community is incurred.

Competency Development
Juveniles who come within the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system should leave the system more capable of being responsible and productive members of their communities.

Individualization
Each case referred to Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system presents unique circumstances and the response by the system must therefore be individualized and based upon an assessment of all relevant information and factors.

Balance
As appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case, Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system should provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, and the development of competencies to enable juveniles to become responsible and productive members of their communities.

Victims of crime, the community, and juvenile offenders should, as well, receive balanced attention from the juvenile justice system and each should gain tangible benefits from their interactions with the system.

Balanced and Restorative Justice - 2003 Juvenile Court Report Card