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1. Are hearings open to the public?

Generally, they are not open to the public unless the juvenile was 14 years of age or older at the time of the alleged conduct and the alleged conduct would be considered a felony if committed by an adult. Or if they meet the criteria of 42 PA C.S. Sec. 6336 e (2).

2. What is the proper attire for Court?

It is recommended that people dress as formal as possible for Court. All clothing should be clean and free of rips or tears. Clothing must not be too tight or revealing. Clothing should not contain any obscenities or references to drugs or alcohol.

3. Do I need to hire a lawyer for court?

All juveniles are presumed indigent. If a juvenile appears at any hearing without counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for the juvenile prior to the commencement of the hearing.

View the Butler County Public Defender’s information regarding Juvenile cases here.

4. What is the referral process/intake?

Butler County Juvenile Court Services receives referrals from four sources;

• County to County Transfers
• Interstate Compact on Juveniles
• Magisterial District Judges for Nonpayment of Costs and Fines
• the Police (Most of the Referrals)

When the case is referred by a local police department, the officer completes a Juvenile Complaint and forwards it to Juvenile Court Services to initiate the process. Once received, the referral is reviewed by the District Attorney's Office to ensure that the police are charging the juvenile correctly. An intake with the juvenile and his/her parent/guardian is then scheduled within three weeks of receiving the referral. The purpose of the intake interview is to begin the process of deciding how the case will be handled by gathering background information. This information will be used to determine the most appropriate disposition for the juvenile, the victim and the community.

5. What do I need to bring to the intake interview?

The juvenile’s social security card, birth certificate, health insurance card, and the most recent report card.  Please see the links below for more detailed information.

Your Child and the Juvenile Court System (PDF)

Purpose of Juvenile Act (PDF)

6. What is adjudication and disposition?

Following the intake interview if a determination is made that an out of court disposition is not appropriate the case is scheduled for a Pre Adjudication Conference (PAC). At that time, the juvenile has the opportunity to admit or deny the charges as listed in the petition or admit to an amended petition as offered by the District Attorney's office. 

Adjudicatory Hearing

If the juvenile denies the allegations, an Adjudicatory Hearing is scheduled. An Adjudicatory Hearing is a hearing to determine guilt or innocence on the alleged charges. If the juvenile is to have committed any Misdemeanor or Felony charges, the case will proceed to the Disposition which may occur at this hearing or at a later date. 

Disposition Hearing

The Disposition Hearing determines if the juvenile is in need of treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation. If the Court makes this finding, then the juvenile is adjudicated, delinquent. The Court must then decide if the juvenile can be supervised in the community on Probation or if the juvenile should be placed.

7. What is the difference between a Judge Hearing and a Juvenile Court Hearing Officer Hearing?

All felony charges, felony dispositional review hearings, and placement review hearings must be heard by a Judge. The Juvenile Court Hearing Officer hears detention hearings, cases involving misdemeanor charges and misdemeanor dispositional review hearings. A Juvenile Court Hearing Officer is a Court-appointed attorney who presides over specifically defined juvenile delinquency matters. Juveniles have a right to have all matters heard before a Judge.

8. How do I pay my restitution and Court costs?

Payments can be made either in person at the Clerk of Courts located on the first floor of the Courthouse (accessed through the Butler County Government Center) or by mail. Please include the juvenile’s name and juvenile docket number (ex:  CP-10-JV-01-2020).

Butler County Clerk of Courts

• 124 W Diamond Street
  First Floor County Courthouse
  P.O. Box 1208
  Butler, PA 16003-1208
• Phone: 724-284-5233
• Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

To make a payment online, the PAePay Online Case Payments site allows the public to securely make payments on cases and payment plans with outstanding balances in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Common Pleas and Magisterial District courts. Payments are accepted using Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express, and ATM/Debit cards. Read the brochure for more information

To make an online payment , Juvenile or Summary Appeal case click here:

Payments cannot exceed $1,000.00 per transaction and a transaction fee of $2.75 per transaction will be applied. 

For payments on Juvenile cases, you must have the docket number, which you must obtain from your court paperwork or from Juvenile Court Services.

9. May a juvenile be fingerprinted or photographed?

All juveniles who have been arrested for Misdemeanor or Felony offenses may be fingerprinted or photographed. If it is found that they committed an offense and adjudicated delinquent, it is a requirement.

10. What is the Court process following the detention of a juvenile?

If a juvenile is detained (placed in a secure facility or a shelter care facility), they will have a detention hearing within 72 hours to review probable cause and decide whether the juvenile needs to remain in detention. If the juvenile remains in custody, they need to have a Pre Adjudication Conference or an Adjudicatory Hearing within 10 days. If they are released from custody, the case is scheduled for a Pre Adjudication Conference when the court schedule allows. Juveniles released on house arrest will be given priority, if applicable.

Disposition of a juvenile still in custody must take place within twenty days. If released from detention, they will return to court when the probation officer has all the evaluations or reports and when the court schedule permits. This usually occurs within 30 to 45 days but is not a mandatory time frame.

11. What is decided at the detention hearing?

If the juvenile shall remain in detention due to their risk to the community or themselves.

12. Can parents be held responsible for any payments?

Yes, the Court may determine the appropriateness of parents/guardians being responsible for payments of court costs and/or restitution.

13. What happens with a Non-Payment Referral?

Non-payment referrals are sent to the Juvenile Probation Department by the Magisterial District Judges when juveniles do not comply with a lawful sentence issued by a Judge for various summary offenses. The only exception would be for the offense of Truancy (Violation of Compulsory Attendance Required 24 PA.C.S 13-333(b)2). 

A sentence imposed by a Magisterial District Judge may include court costs, fines, and community service. If a sentence is not fulfilled, the Magisterial District Court will forward a Juvenile Certification Form to Juvenile Court Services. Juvenile Court Services will then send a notification to the juvenile informing them of their options to either pay the amount in full or complete a specific amount of community service. If the juvenile fails to complete either of those options, a petition may be filed with the Juvenile Court as per 42 PA C.S. 6301 which may result in an adjudication of delinquency.

14. How are juvenile records expunged?

In order to expunge or destroy records, a motion must be initiated, which is to take the form of a proposed Court Order, and then approved by the Court.  Contact the Butler County Clerk of Courts Office for information regarding expungements.