How Your Child Is Referred To The Juvenile Court:
Referrals to the Juvenile Court may come from police
departments, magistrates, schools, parents, other courts,
agencies and private citizens, but the most common
source of referral is the police.
Factors That Can Lead To Your Child’s Arrest:
If he/she is seen breaking the law.
If the police have reason to believe that your child has
broken the law.
If someone has filed a complaint against your child.
How Detention Is Decided For Your Child:
If your child is arrested, the police will make a decision to
release him/her into your custody or transport him/her to the
Shuman Detention Center at 7150 Highland Drive in the East
End of Pittsburgh. A decision by the police to request
detention is prompted by the following factors:
If the police cannot locate you,
If you are unwilling to accept custody of your child,
If he/she has been charged with a serious offense,
If his/her previous record warrants detention.
Your Child’s Admission To The Detention Center:
Once your child is admitted to Shuman Center by the
police, a Court Intake Officer is immediately assigned to
his/her case. The Intake Officer will contact you in order
to discuss the charge(s) lodged against your child and
indicate whether continued detention appears to be
warranted. If it is, the Intake Officer will advise you of
the date, time and place the Detention Hearing will
occur.
Your Child’s Rights At The Time Of Detention:
Your child is not required to make a statement and can
refuse to answer all questions until you and your
attorney are present.
Your child must have a detention hearing within 72 hours
of his/her admission to the detention center to decide
whether he/she has to remain there pending further
court action.
For the detention hearing, your child will automatically
be assigned a public defender unless you choose to
provide your own attorney.
If your child is detained, a formal hearing must take place
within 10 days.
If your child is released on Electronic or Non-electronic
Home Detention, a formal hearing will generally take
place within 3-4 weeks.
If your child is released without restriction, an
approximate waiting time for a hearing would be 4-6
weeks.
Your Child’s Rights During The Detention Period:
While your child is being detained, educational, recreational
and medical services are provided to him/her.
You are permitted to visit your child during regularly
scheduled visiting hours from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., seven
days a week. Only parents, grandparents, legal guardians
and clergy may visit. All visitors must have a Driver’s
License or PA photo ID.
The detention center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. The telephone number is (412) 661-6806.
Preparation For Your Child’s Court Hearing: You will receive,
by mail:
A copy of a petition which contains the specific charges filed
against your child.
An explanation regarding how your child may secure the
services of the public defender’s office if you cannot
afford a private attorney.
Written notification of the hearing date, place, time,
Judge, Probation Officer assigned to your child’s case and
his/her phone number should you need contact him/her.
Our main phone number is (412) 350-0200.
Specialized Services:
The Family Law Center is handicap accessible. If any
assistance is necessary to enter or exit the building,
please make advance arrangements by contacting
Administrative Services at (412) 350-0211.
If you are in need of an interpreter (foreign or sign
language), please contact the Probation Officer assigned
to the case with as much advance notice as possible.
Proper Courtroom Attire
It is important that when you and/or your child(ren)
come to court that all dress appropriately. All clothing
should be clean and free of rips or tears. Clothing must
not be too tight, scanty, or revealing. Shoes must be
worn at all times. Clothing and jewelry that include
logos, slogans, or pictures that are of an obscene or
derogatory nature to any group or individual, or that
could be construed as such, are not acceptable. You
should dress in a manner that fits the circumstances.
Remember you will be in a courtroom with a
Judge/Hearing Officer, Attorneys and other individuals
who are responsible for the welfare of your child(ren).
Check-In Procedures On Your Child’s Court Day:
After passing through the metal detector at Family Law
Center (If you have a pacemaker, please inform the
Attendant and special provisions will be made), you
should register your name at the Information Desk. At
that time the assigned probation officer will be notified
of your arrival.
Although your case is scheduled to be heard at a
particular time, there may be unanticipated delays.
Therefore, you should make yourself as comfortable as
possible in the waiting room area, until your case is
called for Court.
amount plus the fee will be converted to a judgment
order, which will follow the child into adulthood and
could have a negative effect on his/her ability to receive
credit. All receipts given for payments should be kept as
proof of payment.
Your Child’s Court Hearing:
Juvenile Court hearings are open to the public in some
situations. If your child is 14 years of age or older and
charged with any felony, or if your child is 12 years of age
or older and charged with certain specific felonies, the
public shall be open to the public. In addition to your
child, your attorney/public defender, the Judge and
Probation Officer, there may also be a tipstaff, sheriff’s
deputy, clerk, court reporter, witnesses, police and
victims in the Courtroom.
The hearing will proceed in two phases: During the first
phase, all testimony and evidence will be presented
regarding the charges against your child. If any or all of
the charges are substantiated, the second phase will
determine what action the Court will take.
Food Concession & MAC machine:
st
The Allegheny Sandwich Shop is located on the 1 Floor,
serving breakfast and lunch. Hours of operation are 7
am–3 pm. An ATM is located inside.
Map of our Location
If Your Child is Placed Under Court Supervision:
He/She could be placed under Court supervision and
returned home in your custody.
He/She may be removed from your home and placed in a
foster home, private institution or Youth Development
Center, and following an assessment of parents’ financial
status, parents may be required to contribute to child’s
maintenance and support.
If your child is placed under Court supervision, whether
at home or elsewhere, he/she will be assigned to a
Probation Officer who will assist and work closely with
you and your child during the entire period of Court
supervision.
Your child will be required to complete a Victim
Awareness Curriculum.
Fines, Costs, Fees, and Restitution:
Payment of a fine, cost, fee or restitution can be ordered
by the Court whether or not your child is returned to
your custody.
Under Pennsylvania law, if your child causes damage or
injury to a victim, he/she can be ordered to make
restitution. Additionally, some financial liability may be
assessed to the parents.
All youth who are adjudicated delinquent or being
supervised on a Consent Decree are liable for a minimum
cost of $25.00 payable to the Pennsylvania Crime Victims
Compensation Fund. $10.00 to Victim Curriculum fee and
$12.25 to the Judicial Computer System /Access to
Justice fund
If the restitution and fees are not paid in full within 30
days from the date of the hearing, a processing fee will
be added. As juvenile jurisdiction can extend to the 21st
birthday, no case will be closed where restitution or fines
remain unpaid. If the child is approaching his/her 21st
birthday and still has an outstanding balance, the original
Published and Distributed
by
Juvenile Section
Common Pleas Court
Family Division
Russell Carlino, Administrator
550 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 350-0200
Fax: 412-350-0197