Pennsylvania Act 1901-297 — DETENTION FACILITIES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS

Act text

DETENTION FACILITIES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS
                  Act of Jul. 2, 1901, P.L. 601, No. 297              Cl. 23
                                  AN ACT

     To establish in cities of the first and second class a house or
        houses of detention for delinquent, dependent and neglected
        children, and providing for the management and maintenance
        thereof.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 8 of Act 499 of 1947 provided that
            Act 297 is repealed insofar as it applies to cities of
            the first class.
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That in every city of the
     first and second class there shall be provided, in the way
     hereinafter mentioned, a house or houses of detention, for the
     reception of untried juvenile offenders and neglected and
     dependent children under the age of sixteen years, who may be in
     the custody of an officer appointed or elected under any law of
     this Commonwealth, and whose cases may be under judicial
     investigation under any laws of this Commonwealth, pending such
     investigation and final determination of such case or cases.
        Section 2.  Houses of detention, established under the
     provisions of this act, shall be provided and managed by a board
     of managers, consisting of five members, two of whom shall be
     women; said board of managers to be appointed by the judges of
     the courts of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery and
     the courts of quarter sessions of the peace having jurisdiction
     in the said respective cities.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 9(b) of Act 173 of 1978 provided
            that section 2 is repealed insofar as it is inconsistent
            with 1 Pa.C.S. § 2301(b) (relating to equality of rights
            based on sex)..
        Section 3.  The board of managers provided for in this act
     shall serve without compensation, and shall hold office for two
     years and until their successors are appointed, subject to
     removal by the judge of the said court.
        Section 4.  The duties of the said board of managers shall be
     to provide a house or houses, by leasing the same or otherwise,
     for the reception of children to be placed therein under the
     provisions of this act, to alter said house or houses for such
     purpose, to keep the same in repair, and generally to fit and
     furnish said house or houses so that the same may be suitable
     for the care of the children intended to be received, and
     especially to arrange such house or houses so that a separate
     room (so far as possible) may be provided for the accommodation
     of each child who may be received therein, and generally to
     supervise and oversee the management of said house or houses.
        Section 5.  Expenses incurred in the performance of the said
     duties of the board of managers shall be itemized, and presented
     with proper vouchers to the county commissioners of the county
     containing the city for which said board of managers may be
     appointed, who shall be required to pay the said expenses.
        Section 6.  Not more than twenty-five (25) children shall be
     received into any single house of detention provided for in this
     act.  Whenever it shall be necessary to accommodate more than
     twenty-five (25) children of the class hereinbefore defined
     (pending such judicial disposition), it shall be the duty of the
     board of managers to provide an additional house or houses to
     accommodate such other children.
        Section 7.  It shall be the duty of the board of managers to
     appoint a man and woman to take charge of the house and children
     committed to such house of detention, and generally to maintain
     order and discipline among the children so committed into their
     keeping. The salary or compensation to be paid to said care-
     takers shall be fixed by the board of managers, and certified to
     the county commissioners as one of the expenses of maintaining
     such house or houses of detention as are established by this
     act.
        Section 8.  It shall not be essential to commit a delinquent,
     dependent or neglected child to the house of detention
     established by this act if, in the judgment of the probation
     officer now or hereafter to be appointed under any present
     existing law or laws of this Commonwealth, it should be deemed
     expedient to otherwise dispose of said child.
        Section 9.  The cost and expenses of maintaining the houses
     of detention by this act established, shall be provided by the
     respective counties containing the said house or houses of
     detention, as the cost and expenses of maintaining county
     prisons are now provided.