Position:
The status of delinquency does not preclude an individual's
rights to fair and equal treatment under the law; therefore,
juvenile offenders should have full access to services including
medical, educational, behavioral health, and drug and alcohol
services appropriate to their needs. Pennsylvania has a legacy
of a strong public/private partnership that has resulted in
a full continuum of services for children who commit delinquent
acts. PCCYFS supports individualized programming for juveniles,
based on best practices that reflect Balanced and Restorative
Justice principles.
Best Practice
in Juvenile Justice Programs:
The Pennsylvania Juvenile Act, predicated upon balanced and
restorative justice principles, mandates that balanced attention
be given to community protection, the rights of victims, and
competency development for juvenile offenders. The public
sector (law enforcement and the courts) is charged with the
identification and adjudication of juvenile offenders. The
courts and juvenile probation staff determine the system response
to each offender and select or deliver programs that reflect
that response. The juvenile justice system relies heavily
on private providers to develop and deliver services to juveniles
and their families.
Core Principles:
Juvenile offenders and their families often have complex issues,
requiring comprehensive coordination of a continuum of services
from multiple systems and funding streams.
A rich variety of treatment and rehabilitative options is
essential to assure that victims and offenders receive adequate
and appropriate services that meet individual needs.
Juvenile justice
is accomplished through the participation and collaboration
of courts, offenders, victims and communities as well as treatment
and rehabilitative service providers. Communities are best
protected when juvenile offenders are provided appropriate
services that address their needs as well as those of victims
and communities. The trial of children and youth in adult
criminal courts is counterproductive.
Offenders are held
accountable for the offenses they committed when they are
required to repair the harm they caused. Offenders make restitution
and participate in community service that is restorative to
the victim and community while providing offenders opportunities
for competency development.
Victims are invited
to participate throughout the juvenile justice process and
are kept informed of the status and location of the individual
juveniles who victimized them. The needs and rights of the
victims, communities and offenders must receive balanced attention.
An effective continuum
of interventions best supports positive outcomes and reduces
recidivism rates.
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