Disposition of delinquent child or person in need of supervision

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  • (a) In disposition hearings all relevant evidence, including oral and written reports, may be received by the court and may be relied upon to the extent of its probative value. The parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to examine and controvert oral or written reports so received and to cross-examine individuals making reports.

  • (b) If a child is found to be delinquent or a person in need of supervision, the court may make any of the following dispositions for his supervision, care and rehabilitation:

    • (1) permit the child to remain with his parents, guardian or other person responsible for the child's care, subject to such conditions and limitations as the court may prescribe including, but not limited to, home evaluations, parenting skills counseling or courses and home evaluations or assessments;

    • (2) place the child on probation under the Youth Services Administration with such conditions as described in section 2524 of this title;

    • (3) order such care and treatment as the court may deem best including detention care or shelter care as appropriate and except as herein otherwise provided.

      In support of any order or decree, the court may order the parents or other person who has been found by the court to be encouraging, causing or contributing to the acts or conditions which bring the child within the purview of this subchapter, to do or omit to do any acts required or forbidden by law, or to provide for an order of protection as per section 2552 of this title, when the judge deems such requirement necessary for the welfare of the child. In case of failure to comply with such requirement, the court may proceed against such persons for contempt of court.
  • (c) If a child is found to be delinquent and the child is over thirteen years old, in addition to subsection (b) of this section the child may be committed to the custody of the Youth Services Administration for placement in a residential institution for a determinate or indeterminate period, but in no event shall continue beyond the child's nineteenth birthday, provided that the procedures of Title 5, section 2522 have been met. If a child is committed to the Youth Services Administration for an indeterminate period of time, the court may order the child to be returned to the court and for the Youth Services Administration to show the court the child is ready to re-enter the community before the child is released, or the court may leave the release date to be the decision of the Youth Services Administration. However, the child must be returned to the court at least once a year for the court to review the child's progress.

  • (d) No child found to be a person in need of supervision, or abused or neglected, unless also found delinquent, shall be committed to or placed in a residential institution.

  • (e) No child who is found to be delinquent, a person in need of supervision, abused or neglected shall be committed to a penal or correctional institution or pre-trial detention center for adult offenders.

  • (f) Whenever the court vests legal custody in an agency, institution or department, it shall transmit with the order copies of the clinical reports, predisposition study, and other information pertinent to the care and treatment of the child.


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