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For Immediate
Release
10/19/11
Listen
Senate Approved Greenleaf's Juvenile Justice Amendments
Today, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to approve Senator
Greenleaf's legislation amending the state's Juvenile Act to ensure greater
protections for juvenile offenders in light of the judicial abuses that occurred
in Luzerne County between 2005 and 2008. Many juvenile's rights were violated
because they were denied representation by an attorney and as a result were
placed in detention centers for minor offenses.
The legislation responds directly to the circumstances of the
Luzerne cases by changing the purpose clause of the Juvenile Act to ensure that
the least restrictive punishments are used and confinement be a last resort.
Under
SB 850, the law will presume that all juvenile defendants are indigent in
order to have each juvenile represented by an attorney.
SB 850 would ensure more equitable treatment of juveniles and
offer them the same protections whether they are tried in juvenile court or
before a magisterial district judge for a summary offense.
The legislation also streamlines the expungement of records that
result from cases before the juvenile court and magisterial district judges.
The bill also defines the crime of cyber bullying by minors.
These activities would only be considered a crime if a minor knowingly transmits
an electronic message or photo to harm or harass another person.
"This is a critical measure to provide for the fair treatment of
all juvenile offenders in Pennsylvania," said Senator Greenleaf. "In most
cases, these young people are very amenable to treatment and will go on to live
crime-free lives. Unfortunately, this legislation results from an extreme abuse
of judicial power. I hope this legislation will help prevent such actions in
the future. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for acting on this important
issue."
Senate Bill
850 Summary
CONTACT:
Aaron Zappia
(215) 657-7700
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