Section | Description |
---|---|
301.1 | Purpose. |
301.2 | Definitions. |
301.3 | Applicability of article to actions and matters occurring before and after effective date. |
301.4 | Separability clause. |
302.1 | Jurisdiction. |
302.2 | Statute of limitations. |
302.3 | Venue. |
303.1 | Criminal procedure law. |
303.2 | Double jeopardy. |
303.3 | Defenses. |
304.1 | Detention. |
304.2 | Temporary order of protection. |
305.1 | Custody by a private person. |
305.2 | Custody by a peace officer or a police officer without a warrant. |
306.1 | Fingerprinting of certain alleged juvenile delinquents. |
306.2 | Fingerprinting; duties of the division of criminal justice services. |
307.1 | Family court appearance ticket. |
307.2 | Appearance ticket procedures. |
307.3 | Rules of court authorizing release before filing of petition. |
307.4 | Hearing following detention. |
308.1 | Rules of court for preliminary procedure. |
310.1 | Originating a juvenile delinquency proceeding. |
310.2 | Speedy trial |
311.1 | The petition; definition and contents. |
311.2 | Sufficiency of petition. |
311.3 | Petition; fact-finding hearings. |
311.4 | Substitution of petition or finding. |
311.5 | Amendment of the petition. |
311.6 | Joinder, severance and consolidation. |
312.1 | Issuance and service of summons. |
312.2 | Issuance of a warrant. |
315.1 | Motion to dismiss; defective petition. |
315.2 | Motion to dismiss in furtherance of justice. |
315.2 | Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. |
S 301.1. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to establish procedures in accordance with due process of law (a) to determine whether a person is a juvenile delinquent and (b) to issue an appropriate order of disposition for any person who is adjudged a juvenile delinquent. In any proceeding under this article, the court shall consider the needs and best interests of the respondent as well as the need for protection of the community. S 301.2. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1. "Juvenile delinquent" means a person over seven and less than sixteen years of age, who, having committed an act that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult, (a) is not criminally responsible for such conduct by reason of infancy, or (b) is the defendant in an action ordered removed from a criminal court to the family court pursuant to article seven hundred twenty-five of the criminal procedure law. 2. "Respondent" means the person against whom a juvenile delinquency petition is filed pursuant to section 310.1. Provided, however, that any act of the respondent required or authorized under this article may be performed by his or her attorney unless expressly provided otherwise. 3. "Detention" means the temporary care and maintenance of children away from their own homes, as defined in section five hundred two of the executive law. Detention of a person alleged to be or adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent shall be authorized only in a facility certified by the division for youth as a detention facility pursuant to section five hundred three of the executive law. 4. "Secure detention facility" means a facility characterized by physically restricting construction, hardware and procedures. 5. "Non-secure detention facility" means a facility characterized by the absence of physically restricting construction, hardware and procedures. 6. "Fact-finding hearing" means a hearing to determine whether the respondent or respondents committed the crime or crimes alleged in the petition or petitions. 7. "Dispositional hearing" means a hearing to determine whether the respondent requires supervision, treatment or confinement. 8. "Designated felony act" means an act which, if done by an adult, would be a crime: (i) defined in sections 125.27 (murder in the first degree); 125.25 (murder in the second degree); 135.25 (kidnapping in the first degree); or 150.20 (arson in the first degree) of the penal law committed by a person thirteen, fourteen or fifteen years of age; or such conduct committed as a sexually motivated felony, where authorized pursuant to section 130.91 of the penal law; (ii) defined in sections 120.10 (assault in the first degree); 125.20 (manslaughter in the first degree); 130.35 (rape in the first degree); 130.50 (criminal sexual act in the first degree); 130.70 (aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree); 135.20 (kidnapping in the second degree) but only where the abduction involved the use or threat of use of deadly physical force; 150.15 (arson in the second degree) or 160.15 (robbery in the first degree) of the penal law committed by a person thirteen, fourteen or fifteen years of age; or such conduct committed as a sexually motivated felony, where authorized pursuant to section 130.91 of the penal law; (iii) defined in the penal law as an attempt to commit murder in the first or second degree or kidnapping in the first degree committed by a person thirteen, fourteen or fifteen years of age; or such conduct committed as a sexually motivated felony, where authorized pursuant to section 130.91 of the penal law; (iv) defined in section 140.30 (burglary in the first degree); subdivision one of section 140.25 (burglary in the second degree); subdivision two of section 160.10 (robbery in the second degree) of the penal law; or section 265.03 of the penal law, where such machine gun or such firearm is possessed on school grounds, as that phrase is defined in subdivision fourteen of section 220.00 of the penal law committed by a person fourteen or fifteen years of age; or such conduct committed as a sexually motivated felony, where authorized pursuant to section 130.91 of the penal law; (v) defined in section 120.05 (assault in the second degree) or 160.10 (robbery in the second degree) of the penal law committed by a person fourteen or fifteen years of age but only where there has been a prior finding by a court that such person has previously committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would be the crime of assault in the second degree, robbery in the second degree or any designated felony act specified in paragraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of this subdivision regardless of the age of such person at the time of the commission of the prior act; or (vi) other than a misdemeanor committed by a person at least seven but less than sixteen years of age, but only where there has been two prior findings by the court that such person has committed a prior felony. 9. "Designated class A felony act" means a designated felony act defined in paragraph (i) of subdivision eight. 10. "Secure facility" means a residential facility in which the respondent may be placed under this article, which is characterized by physically restricting construction, hardware and procedures, and is designated as a secure facility by the division for youth. 11. "Restrictive placement" means a placement pursuant to section 353.5. 12. "Presentment agency" means the agency or authority which pursuant to section two hundred fifty-four or two hundred fifty-four-a is responsible for presenting a juvenile delinquency petition. 13. "Incapacitated person" means a respondent who, as a result of mental illness, mental retardation or developmental disability as defined in subdivisions twenty, twenty-one and twenty-two of section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law, lacks capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense. 14. Any reference in this article to the commission of a crime includes any act which, if done by an adult, would constitute a crime. 15. "Aggravated circumstances" shall have the same meaning as the definition of such term in subdivision (j) of section one thousand twelve of this act. 16. "Permanency hearing" means an initial hearing or subsequent hearing held in accordance with the provisions of this article for the purpose of reviewing the foster care status of the respondent and the appropriateness of the permanency plan developed by the commissioner of social services or the office of children and family services. 17. "Designated educational official" shall mean (a) an employee or representative of a school district who is designated by the school district or (b) an employee or representative of a charter school or private elementary or secondary school who is designated by such school to receive records pursuant to this article and to coordinate the student's participation in programs which may exist in the school district or community, including: non-violent conflict resolution programs, peer mediation programs and youth courts, extended day programs and other school violence prevention and intervention programs which may exist in the school district or community. Such notification shall be kept separate and apart from such student's school records and shall be accessible only by the designated educational official. Such notification shall not be part of such student's permanent school record and shall not be appended to or included in any documentation regarding such student and shall be destroyed at such time as such student is no longer enrolled in the school district. At no time shall such notification be used for any purpose other than those specified in this subdivision. S 301.3. Applicability of article to actions and matters occurring before and after effective date. 1. The provisions of this article apply exclusively to: (a) all juvenile delinquency actions and proceedings commenced upon or after the effective date thereof and all appeals and other post-judgment proceedings relating or attaching thereto; and (b) all matters of juvenile delinquency procedure prescribed in this article which do not constitute a part of any particular action or case, occurring upon or after such effective date. 2. The provisions of this article apply to: (a) all juvenile delinquency actions and proceedings commenced prior to the effective date thereof but still pending on such date; and (b) all appeals and other post-judgment proceedings commenced upon or after such effective date which relate or attach to juvenile delinquency actions and proceedings commenced or concluded prior to such effective date provided that, if application of such provisions in any particular case would not be feasible or would work injustice, the provisions of article seven pertaining to juvenile delinquency actions apply thereto, as such article seven read immediately prior to the effective date of this article. 3. The provisions of this article do not impair or render ineffectual any proceedings or procedural matters which occurred prior to the effective date thereof. S 301.4. Separability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. S 302.1. Jurisdiction. 1. The family court has exclusive original jurisdiction over any proceeding to determine whether a person is a juvenile delinquent. 2. In determining the jurisdiction of the court the age of such person at the time the delinquent act allegedly was committed is controlling. S 302.1. Statute of limitations. A juvenile delinquency proceeding must be commenced within the period of limitation prescribed in section 30.10 of the criminal procedure law or, unless the alleged act is a designated felony as defined in subdivision eight of section 301.2, commenced before the respondent's eighteenth birthday, whichever occurs earlier. When the alleged act constitutes a designated felony as defined in subdivision eight of section 301.2 such proceeding must be commenced within such period of limitation or before the respondent's twentieth birthday, whichever occurs earlier. S 302.3. Venue. 1. Juvenile delinquency proceedings shall be originated in the county in which the act or acts referred to in the petition allegedly occurred. For purposes of determining venue, article twenty of the criminal procedure law shall apply. 2. Upon motion of the respondent or the appropriate presentment agency the family court in which the proceedings have been originated may order, for good cause shown, that the proceeding be transferred to another county. If the order is issued after motion by the presentment agency, the court may impose such conditions as it deems equitable and appropriate to ensure that the transfer does not subject the respondent to an unreasonable burden in making his defense. 3. Any motion made pursuant to subdivision two by the respondent shall be made within the time prescribed by section 332.2. Any such motion by a presentment agency must be based upon papers stating the ground therefor and must be made within thirty days from the date that the action was originated unless such time is extended for good cause shown. 4. Except for designated felony act petitions, after entering a finding pursuant to subdivision one of section 345.1, and prior to the commencement of the dispositional hearing the court may, in its discretion and for good cause shown, order that the proceeding be transferred to the county in which the respondent resides. The court shall not order such a transfer, however, unless it grants the respondent and the presentment agency an opportunity to state on the record whether each approves or disapproves of such a transfer and the reasons therefor. The court shall take into consideration the provisions of subdivisions two and three of section 340.2 in determining such transfer. S 303.1. Criminal procedure law. 1. The provisions of the criminal procedure law shall not apply to proceedings under this article unless the applicability of such provisions are specifically prescribed by this act. 2. A court may, however, consider judicial interpretations of appropriate provisions of the criminal procedure law to the extent that such interpretations may assist the court in interpreting similar provisions of this article. S 303.2. Double jeopardy. The provisions of article forty of the criminal procedure law concerning double jeopardy shall apply to juvenile delinquency proceedings. S 303.3. Defenses. The provisions of articles twenty-five, thirty-five and forty and section 30.05 of the penal law shall be applicable to juvenile delinquency proceedings. * S 304.1. Detention. 1. A facility certified by the state division for youth as a juvenile facility must be operated in conformity with the regulations of the state division for youth and shall be subject to the visitation and inspection of the state board of social welfare. 2. No child to whom the provisions of this article may apply shall be detained in any prison, jail, lockup, or other place used for adults convicted of crime or under arrest and charged with crime without the approval of the state division for youth in the case of each child and the statement of its reasons therefor. The state division for youth shall promulgate and publish the rules which it shall apply in determining whether approval should be granted pursuant to this subdivision. 3. The detention of a child under ten years of age in a secure detention facility shall not be directed under any of the provisions of this article. 4. A detention facility which receives a child under subdivision four of section 305.2 shall immediately notify the child's parent or other person legally responsible for his care or, if such legally responsible person is unavailable the person with whom the child resides, that he has been placed in detention. * NB Effective until October 1, 2018 * S Detention. 1. A facility certified by the office of children and family services as a juvenile detention facility must be operated in conformity with the regulations of the office of children and family services. 2. No child to whom the provisions of this article may apply shall be detained in any prison, jail, lockup, or other place used for adults convicted of crime or under arrest and charged with crime without the approval of the office of children and family services in the case of each child and the statement of its reasons therefor. The office of children and family services shall promulgate and publish the rules which it shall apply in determining whether approval should be granted pursuant to this subdivision. 3. The detention of a child under ten years of age in a secure detention facility shall not be directed under any of the provisions of this article. 4. A detention facility which receives a child under subdivision four of section 305.2 of this part shall immediately notify the child's parent or other person legally responsible for his or her care or, if such legally responsible person is unavailable the person with whom the child resides, that he or she has been placed in detention. * NB Effective October 1, 2018; see ch. 59/2017 Pt. WWW ยง 106 sb b for further contingencies for 10/1/2019 S 304.2. Temporary order of protection. (1) Upon application by the presentment agency, the court may issue a temporary order of protection against a respondent for good cause shown, ex parte or upon notice, at any time after a juvenile is taken into custody, pursuant to section 305.1 or 305.2 or upon the issuance of an appearance ticket pursuant to section 307.1 or upon the filing of a petition pursuant to section 310.1. (2) A temporary order of protection may contain any of the provisions authorized on the making of an order of protection under section 352.3. (3) A temporary order of protection is not a finding of wrongdoing. (4) A temporary order of protection may remain in effect until an order of disposition is entered. S 305.1. Custody by a private person. 1. A private person may take a child under the age of sixteen into custody in cases in which he may arrest an adult for a crime under section 140.30 of the criminal procedure law. 2. Before taking such child under the age of sixteen into custody, a private person must inform the child of the cause thereof and require him to submit, except when he is taken into custody on pursuit immediately after the commission of a crime. 3. After taking such child into custody, a private person must take the child, without unnecessary delay, to the child's home, to a family court, or to a police officer or peace officer. S 305.2. Custody by a peace officer or a police officer without a warrant. 1. For purposes of this section, the word "officer" means a peace officer or a police officer. 2. An officer may take a child under the age of sixteen into custody without a warrant in cases in which he may arrest a person for a crime under article one hundred forty of the criminal procedure law. 3. If an officer takes such child into custody or if a child is delivered to him under section 305.1, he shall immediately notify the parent or other person legally responsible for the child's care, or if such legally responsible person is unavailable the person with whom the child resides, that the child has been taken into custody. 4. After making every reasonable effort to give notice under subdivision three, the officer shall: (a) release the child to the custody of his parents or other person legally responsible for his care upon the issuance in accordance with section 307.1 of a family court appearance ticket to the child and the person to whose custody the child is released; or (b) forthwith and with all reasonable speed take the child directly, and without his first being taken to the police station house, to the family court located in the county in which the act occasioning the taking into custody allegedly was committed, unless the officer determines that it is necessary to question the child, in which case he may take the child to a facility designated by the chief administrator of the courts as a suitable place for the questioning of children or, upon the consent of a parent or other person legally responsible for the care of the child, to the child's residence and there question him for a reasonable period of time; or (c) take the child to a place certified by the office of children and family services as a juvenile detention facility for the reception of children; or (d) take the child who such officer has decided to take into custody in accordance with this section or section 305.1 of this part for violating the provisions of section 230.00 of the penal law, to an available short-term safe house as defined in subdivision two of section four hundred forty-seven-a of the social services law; or (e) take the child, if it appears that such child is a sexually exploited child as defined in paragraph (a), (c) or (d) of subdivision one of section four hundred forty-seven-a of the social services law, to an available short-term safe house, but only if the child consents to be taken. 5. If such child has allegedly committed a designated felony act as defined in subdivision eight of section 301.2, and the family court in the county is in session, the officer shall forthwith take the child directly to such family court, unless the officer takes the child to a facility for questioning in accordance with paragraph (b) of subdivision four. If such child has not allegedly committed a designated felony act and such family court is in session, the officer shall either forthwith take the child directly to such family court, unless the officer takes the child to a facility for questioning in accordance with paragraph (b) of subdivision four or release the child in accordance with paragraph (a) of subdivision four. 6. In all other cases, and in the absence of special circumstances, the officer shall release the child in accordance with paragraph (a) of subdivision four. 7. A child shall not be questioned pursuant to this section unless he and a person required to be notified pursuant to subdivision three if present, have been advised: (a) of the child's right to remain silent; (b) that the statements made by the child may be used in a court of law; (c) of the child's right to have an attorney present at such questioning; and (d) of the child's right to have an attorney provided for him without charge if he is indigent. 8. In determining the suitability of questioning and determining the reasonable period of time for questioning such a child, the child's age, the presence or absence of his parents or other persons legally responsible for his care and notification pursuant to subdivision three shall be included among relevant considerations. S 306.1. Fingerprinting of certain alleged juvenile delinquents. 1. Following the arrest of a child alleged to be a juvenile delinquent, or the filing of a delinquency petition involving a child who has not been arrested, the arresting officer or other appropriate police officer or agency shall take or cause to be taken fingerprints of such child if: (a) the child is eleven years of age or older and the crime which is the subject of the arrest or which is charged in the petition constitutes a class A or B felony; or (b) the child is thirteen years of age or older and the crime which is the subject of the arrest or which is charged in the petition constitutes a class C, D or E felony. 2. Whenever fingerprints are required to be taken pursuant to subdivision one, the photograph and palmprints of the arrested child may also be taken. 3. The taking of fingerprints, palmprints, photographs, and related information concerning the child and the facts and circumstances of the acts charged in the juvenile delinquency proceeding shall be in accordance with standards established by the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services and by applicable provisions of this article. 4. Upon the taking of fingerprints pursuant to subdivision one the appropriate officer or agency shall, without unnecessary delay, forward such fingerprints to the division of criminal justice services and shall not retain such fingerprints or any copy thereof. Copies of photographs and palmprints taken pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential and only in the exclusive possession of such law enforcement agency, separate and apart from files of adults. S 306.2. Fingerprinting; duties of the division of criminal justice services. 1. Upon receipt of fingerprints taken pursuant to section 306.1, the division of criminal justice services shall retain such fingerprints distinctly identifiable from adult criminal records except as provided in section 354.1, and shall not release such fingerprints to a federal depository or to any person except as authorized by this act. The division shall promulgate regulations to protect the confidentiality of such fingerprints and related information and to prevent access thereto, by, and the distribution thereof to, persons not authorized by law. 2. Upon receipt of such fingerprints, the division of criminal justice services shall classify them and search its records for information concerning an adjudication or pending matter involving the person arrested. The division shall promptly transmit to such forwarding officer or agency a report containing any information on file with respect to such person's previous adjudications and pending matters or a report stating that the person arrested has no previous record according to its files. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the division has not received disposition information within two years of an arrest, the division shall, until such information or up-to-date status information is received, withhold the record of that arrest and any related activity in disseminating criminal history information. 3. Upon receipt of a report of the division of criminal justice services pursuant to this section, the recipient office or agency must promptly transmit two copies of such report to the family court in which the proceeding may be originated and two copies thereof to the presentment agency who shall furnish a copy thereof to counsel for the respondent. S 307.1. Family court appearance ticket. 1. A family court appearance ticket is a written notice issued and subscribed by a peace officer or police officer, a probation service director or his designee or the administrator responsible for operating a detention facility or his designee, directing a child and his parent or other person legally responsible for his care to appear, without security, at a designated probation service on a specified return date in connection with the child's alleged commission of the crime or crimes specified on such appearance ticket. The form of a family court appearance ticket shall be prescribed by rules of the chief administrator of the courts. 2. If the crime alleged to have been committed by the child is a designated felony as defined by subdivision eight of section 301.2, the return date shall be no later than seventy-two hours excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays after issuance of such family court appearance ticket. If the crime alleged to have been committed by such child is not a designated felony, the return date shall be no later than fourteen days after the issuance of such appearance ticket. 3. A copy of the family court appearance ticket shall be forwarded by the issuing person or agency to the complainant, respondent, respondent's parent, and appropriate probation service within twenty-four hours after its issuance. S 307.2. Appearance ticket procedures. 1. If a child fails to appear on the return date specified on a family court appearance ticket, the probation service may refer the matter forthwith to the appropriate presentment agency or may, in its discretion, attempt to secure the attendance of the child. Upon exercise of its discretion, probation services shall take appropriate action under law including, but not limited to, written notification to the child and parent or other person legally responsible for his care or telephone communications with the child and parent or other person legally responsible for his care. Efforts to secure the attendance of the child shall not extend beyond seven days subsequent to such return date and the probation service must refer the matter to the appropriate presentment agency within such period. Upon referral, the presentment agency may take whatever action it deems appropriate, including the filing of a petition pursuant to section 311.1. 2. If the complainant fails to appear on the return date specified on such appearance ticket, the probation service may, in its discretion, attempt to secure his voluntary attendance. Upon exercise of its discretion, probation services may take appropriate action under law including, but not limited to, written notification to the complainant or telephone communications with the complainant. Efforts to secure the voluntary attendance of such person shall not extend beyond seven days subsequent to such return date and the probation service shall refer the matter to the appropriate presentment agency within such period. Upon referral, the presentment agency may take whatever action it deems appropriate, including the issuance of a subpoena or the filing of a petition pursuant to section 311.1. 3. If a petition is filed subsequent to the issuance of an appearance ticket the appearance ticket shall be made part of the probation service file. S 307.3. Rules of court authorizing release before filing of petition. 1. The agency responsible for operating a detention facility pursuant to section two hundred eighteen-a of the county law, five hundred ten-a of the executive law or other applicable provisions of law, shall release a child in custody before the filing of a petition to the custody of his parents or other person legally responsible for his care, or if such legally responsible person is unavailable, to a person with whom he resides, when the events occasioning the taking into custody do not appear to involve allegations that the child committed a delinquent act. 2. When practicable such agency may release a child before the filing of a petition to the custody of his parents or other person legally responsible for his care, or if such legally responsible person is unavailable, to a person with whom he resides, when the events occasioning the taking into custody appear to involve allegations that the child committed a delinquent act. 3. If a child is released under this section, the child and the person legally responsible for his care shall be issued a family court appearance ticket in accordance with section 307.1. 4. If the agency for any reason does not release a child under this section, such child shall be brought before the appropriate family court within seventy-two hours or the next day the court is in session, whichever is sooner. Such agency shall thereupon file an application for an order pursuant to section 307.4 and shall forthwith serve a copy of the application upon the appropriate presentment agency. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude the adjustment of suitable cases pursuant to section 308.1. S 307.4. Hearing following detention. 1. If a child in custody is brought before a judge of the family court before a petition is filed upon a written application pursuant to subdivision four of section 307.3, the judge shall hold a hearing for the purpose of making a preliminary determination of whether the court appears to have jurisdiction over the child. 2. At such hearing the court must appoint an attorney to represent the child pursuant to the provisions of section two hundred forty-nine if independent legal representation is not available to such child. 3. The provisions of sections 320.3 and 341.2 shall apply at such hearing. 4. After such hearing, the judge shall order the release of the child to the custody of his parent or other person legally responsible for his care if: (a) the court does not appear to have jurisdiction, or (b) the events occasioning the taking into custody do not appear to involve allegations that the child committed a delinquent act, or (c) the events occasioning the taking into custody appear to involve acts which constitute juvenile delinquency, unless the court finds and states facts and reasons which would support a detention order pursuant to section 320.5. 5. Such hearing shall be held within seventy-two hours of the time detention commenced or the next day the court is in session, whichever is sooner. 6. The appropriate presentment agency shall present the application at a hearing pursuant to this section. 7. A petition shall be filed and a probable-cause hearing held under section 325.1 within four days of the conclusion of a hearing under this section. If a petition is not filed within four days the child shall be released. 8. Upon a finding of facts and reasons which support a detention order pursuant to section 320.5 of this chapter, the court shall also determine and state in any order directing detention: (a) whether the continuation of the child in the child's home would be contrary to the best interests of the child based upon, and limited to, the facts and circumstances available to the court at the time of the hearing held in accordance with this section; and (b) where appropriate and consistent with the need for protection of the community, whether reasonable efforts were made prior to the date of the court hearing that resulted in the detention order issued in accordance with this section to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from his or her home or, if the child had been removed from his or her home prior to the initial appearance, where appropriate and consistent with the need for protection of the community, whether reasonable efforts were made to make it possible for the child to safely return home. S 308.1. Rules of court for preliminary procedure. 1. Rules of court shall authorize and determine the circumstances under which the probation service may confer with any person seeking to have a juvenile delinquency petition filed, the potential respondent and other interested persons concerning the advisability of requesting that a petition be filed. 2. Except as provided in subdivisions three and four of this section, the probation service may, in accordance with rules of court, adjust suitable cases before a petition is filed. The inability of the respondent or his or her family to make restitution shall not be a factor in a decision to adjust a case or in a recommendation to the presentment agency pursuant to subdivision six of this section. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the probation service or the court from directing a respondent to obtain employment and to make restitution from the earnings from such employment. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the probation service or the court from directing an eligible person to complete an education reform program in accordance with section four hundred fifty-eight-l of the social services law. 3. The probation service shall not adjust a case in which the child has allegedly committed a designated felony act unless it has received the written approval of the court. 4. The probation service shall not adjust a case in which the child has allegedly committed a delinquent act which would be a crime defined in section 120.25, (reckless endangerment in the first degree), subdivision one of section 125.15, (manslaughter in the second degree), subdivision one of section 130.25, (rape in the third degree), subdivision one of section 130.40, (criminal sexual act in the third degree), subdivision one or two of section 130.65, (sexual abuse in the first degree), section 135.65, (coercion in the first degree), section 140.20, (burglary in the third degree), section 150.10, (arson in the third degree), section 160.05, (robbery in the third degree), subdivision two, three or four of section 265.02, (criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree), section 265.03, (criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree), or section 265.04, (criminal possession of a dangerous weapon in the first degree) of the penal law where the child has previously had one or more adjustments of a case in which such child allegedly committed an act which would be a crime specified in this subdivision unless it has received written approval from the court and the appropriate presentment agency. 5. The fact that a child is detained prior to the filing of a petition shall not preclude the probation service from adjusting a case; upon adjusting such a case the probation service shall notify the detention facility to release the child. 6. The probation service shall not transmit or otherwise communicate to the presentment agency any statement made by the child to a probation officer. However, the probation service may make a recommendation regarding adjustment of the case to the presentment agency and provide such information, including any report made by the arresting officer and record of previous adjustments and arrests, as it shall deem relevant. 7. No statement made to the probation service prior to the filing of a petition may be admitted into evidence at a fact-finding hearing or, if the proceeding is transferred to a criminal court, at any time prior to a conviction. 8. The probation service may not prevent any person who wishes to request that a petition be filed from having access to the appropriate presentment agency for that purpose. 9. Efforts at adjustment pursuant to rules of court under this section may not extend for a period of more than two months without leave of the court, which may extend the period for an additional two months. 10. If a case is not adjusted by the probation service, such service shall notify the appropriate presentment agency of that fact within forty-eight hours or the next court day, whichever occurs later. 11. The probation service may not be authorized under this section to compel any person to appear at any conference, produce any papers, or visit any place. 12. The probation service shall certify to the division of criminal justice services and to the appropriate police department or law enforcement agency whenever it adjusts a case in which the potential respondent's fingerprints were taken pursuant to section 306.1 in any manner other than the filing of a petition for juvenile delinquency for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a felony, provided, however, in the case of a child eleven or twelve years of age, such certification shall be made only if the act would constitute a class A or B felony. 13. The provisions of this section shall not apply where the petition is an order of removal to the family court pursuant to article seven hundred twenty-five of the criminal procedure law. S 310.1. Originating a juvenile delinquency proceeding. 1. A proceeding to adjudicate a person a juvenile delinquent is originated by the filing of a petition. 2. Only a presentment agency may originate a juvenile delinquency proceeding. 3. If the appropriate agency does not originate a proceeding within thirty days of receipt of notice from the probation service pursuant to subdivision ten of section 308.1, it shall notify in writing the complainant of that fact. S 310.2. Speedy trial. After a petition has been filed, or upon the signing of an order of removal pursuant to section 725.05 of the criminal procedure law, the respondent is entitled to a speedy fact-finding hearing. S 311.1. The petition; definition and contents. 1. A petition originating a juvenile delinquency proceeding is a written accusation by an authorized presentment agency. 2. A petition shall charge at least one crime and may, in addition, charge in separate counts one or more other crimes, provided that all such crimes are joinable in accord with section 311.6. 3. A petition must contain: (a) the name of the family court in which it is filed; (b) the title of the action; (c) the fact that the respondent is a person under sixteen years of age at the time of the alleged act or acts; (d) a separate accusation or count addressed to each crime charged, if there be more than one; (e) the precise crime or crimes charged; (f) a statement in each count that the crime charged was committed in a designated county; (g) a statement in each count that the crime charged therein was committed on, or on or about, a designated date, or during a designated period of time; (h) a plain and concise factual statement in each count which, without allegations of an evidentiary nature, asserts facts supporting every element of the crime charged and the respondent's commission thereof with sufficient precision to clearly apprise the respondent of the conduct which is the subject of the accusation; (i) the name or names, if known, of other persons who are charged as co-respondents in the family court or as adults in a criminal court proceeding in the commission of the crime or crimes charged; (j) a statement that the respondent requires supervision, treatment or confinement; and (k) the signature of the appropriate presentment attorney. 4. A petition shall be verified in accordance with the civil practice law and rules and shall conform to the provisions of section 311.2. 5. If the petition alleges that the respondent committed a designated felony act, it shall so state, and the term "designated felony act petition" shall be prominently marked thereon. Certified copies of prior delinquency findings shall constitute sufficient proof of such findings for the purpose of filing a designated felony petition. If all the allegations of a designated felony act are dismissed or withdrawn or the respondent is found to have committed crimes which are not designated felony acts, the term "designated felony act petition" shall be stricken from the petition. 6. The form of petition shall be prescribed by the chief administrator of the courts. A petition shall be entitled "In the Matter of", followed by the name of the respondent. 7. When an order of removal pursuant to article seven hundred twenty-five of the criminal procedure law is filed with the clerk of the court, such order and those pleadings and proceedings, other than the minutes of any hearing inquiry or trial, grand jury proceeding, or of any plea accepted or entered, held in this action that has not yet been transcribed shall be transferred with it and shall be deemed to be a petition filed pursuant to subdivision one of section 310.1 containing all of the allegations required by this section notwithstanding that such allegations may not be set forth in the manner therein prescribed. Where the order or the grand jury request annexed to the order specifies an act that is a designated felony act, the clerk shall annex to the order a sufficient statement and marking to make it a designated felony act petition. The date such order is filed with the clerk of the court shall be deemed the date a petition was filed under this article. For purposes of service in accord with section 312.1, however, only the order of removal shall be deemed the petition. All minutes of any hearing inquiry or trial held in this action, the minutes of any grand jury proceeding and the minutes of any plea accepted and entered shall be transferred to the family court within thirty days. S 311.2. Sufficiency of petition. A petition, or a count thereof, is sufficient on its face when: 1. it substantially conforms to the requirements prescribed in section 311.1; and 2. the allegations of the factual part of the petition, together with those of any supporting depositions which may accompany it, provide reasonable cause to believe that the respondent committed the crime or crimes charged; and 3. non-hearsay allegations of the factual part of the petition or of any supporting depositions establish, if true, every element of each crime charged and the respondent's commission thereof. S 311.3. Petition; fact-finding hearings. 1. When two or more respondents are charged in separate petitions with the same crime or crimes the court shall conduct a single or consolidated fact-finding hearing. The court, however, upon motion of a respondent or the presentment agency, may, in its discretion and for good cause shown, order that any respondent be granted a fact-finding hearing separate from the other respondents. Such motion must be made within the period prescribed in section 332.2. 2. If such petitions, in addition to charging the same crime or crimes against the different respondents, charge other crimes not common to all, the court may nevertheless conduct a single fact-finding hearing for the crime or crimes common to all. S 311.4. Substitution of petition or finding. 1. At any time in the proceedings the court, upon motion of a respondent or its own motion, may, with the consent of the presentment agency and with the consent of the respondent, substitute a petition alleging that the respondent is in need of supervision for a petition alleging that the respondent is a juvenile delinquent. 2. At the conclusion of the dispositional hearing the court, upon motion of the respondent or its own motion, may in its discretion and with the consent of the respondent, substitute a finding that the respondent is a person in need of supervision for a finding that the respondent is a juvenile delinquent. 3. In any proceeding under this article based upon an arrest for an act of prostitution, there is a presumption that the respondent meets the criteria as a victim of a severe form of trafficking as defined in section 7105 of title 22 of the United States Code (Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000). Upon the motion of the respondent, without the consent of the presentment agency, a petition alleging that the respondent is in need of supervision shall be substituted for the delinquency petition. If, however, the respondent has been previously adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent under this article for an act which would be a crime pursuant to article two hundred thirty of the penal law, if the respondent was an adult, or expresses a current unwillingness to cooperate with specialized services for sexually exploited youth, continuing with the delinquency proceeding shall be within the court's discretion. The necessary findings of fact to support the continuation of the delinquency proceeding shall be reduced to writing and made part of the court record. If, subsequent to issuance of a substitution order under this subdivision and prior to the conclusion of the fact finding hearing on the petition alleging that the respondent is a person in need of supervision, the respondent is not in substantial compliance with a lawful order of the court, the court may, in its discretion, substitute the original petition alleging that the respondent is a juvenile delinquent for the petition alleging that the respondent is in need of supervision. S 311.5. Amendment of the petition. 1. At any time before or during the fact-finding hearing, the court may, upon application of the presentment agency and with notice to the respondent and an opportunity to be heard, order the amendment of a petition with respect to defects, errors or variances from the proof relating to matters of form, time, place, names of persons and the like, when such amendment does not tend to prejudice the respondent on the merits. Upon permitting such an amendment, the court must, upon application of the respondent, order any adjournment which may be necessary to accord the respondent an adequate opportunity to prepare his defense. 2. A petition may not be amended for the purpose of curing: (a) a failure to charge or state a crime; or (b) legal insufficiency of the factual allegations; or (c) a misjoinder of crimes. S 311.6. Joinder, severance and consolidation. 1. Two crimes are joinable and may be included as separate counts in the same petition when: (a) they are based upon the same act or upon the same criminal transaction, as that term is defined in subdivision two; or (b) even though based upon different criminal transactions, such crimes, or the criminal transactions underlying them, are of such nature that either proof of the first crime would be material and admissible as evidence in chief upon a fact-finding hearing of the second, or proof of the second would be material and admissible as evidence in chief upon a fact-finding hearing of the first; or (c) even though based upon different criminal transactions, and even though not joinable pursuant to paragraph (b), such crimes are defined by the same or similar statutory provisions and consequently are the same or similar in law. 2. "Criminal transaction" means conduct which establishes at least one crime, and which is comprised of two or more or a group of acts either: (a) so closely related and connected in point of time and circumstance of commission as to constitute a single criminal incident; or (b) so closely related in criminal purpose or objective as to constitute elements or integral parts of a single criminal venture. 3. In any case where two or more crimes or groups of crimes charged in a petition are based upon different criminal transactions, and where their joinability rests solely upon the fact that such crimes, or as the case may be at least one offense of each group, are the same or similar in law, as prescribed in paragraph (c) of subdivision one, the court, in the interest of justice and for good cause shown, may upon application of either the respondent or the presentment agency order that any one of such crimes or groups of crimes be tried separately from the other or others, or that two or more thereof be tried together but separately from two or more others thereof. Such application must be made within the period prescribed in section 332.2. 4. When two or more petitions against the same respondent charge different crimes of a kind that are joinable in a single petition pursuant to subdivision one, the court may, upon application of either the presentment agency or respondent order that such petitions be consolidated and treated as a single petition for trial purposes. Such application must be made within the period prescribed in section 332.2. If the respondent requests consolidation with respect to crimes which are, pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision one, of a kind that are joinable in a single petition by reason of being based upon the same act or criminal transaction, the court must order such consolidation unless good cause to the contrary be shown. S 312.1. Issuance and service of summons. 1. After a petition has been filed, the court may cause a copy thereof and a summons to be issued, requiring the respondent personally and his parent or other person legally responsible for his care, or, if such legally responsible person is not available, a person with whom he resides, to appear for the initial appearance as defined by section 320.1 at a time and place named. The summons shall be signed by a judge or by the clerk of the court. 2. Service of a summons and petition shall be made by delivery of a true copy thereof to the person summoned at least twenty-four hours before the time stated therein for appearance. 3. If after reasonable effort, personal service as provided in subdivision two is not made, the court may at any stage in the proceedings make an order providing for service in any manner the court directs. S 312.2. Issuance of a warrant. 1. The court may issue a warrant, directing that the respondent personally or other person legally responsible for his or her care or, if such legally responsible person is not available, a person with whom he or she resides, be brought before the court, when a petition has been filed and it appears that: (a) a summons cannot be served; or (b) such person has refused to obey a summons or family court appearance ticket; or (c) the respondent or other person is likely to leave the jurisdiction; or (d) a summons, in the court's opinion, would be ineffectual; or (e) a respondent has failed to appear. 2. Upon issuance of a warrant due to the respondent's failure to appear for a scheduled court date, the court shall adjourn the matter to a date certain within thirty days for a report on the efforts made to secure the respondent's appearance in court. The court may order that the person legally responsible for the respondent's care or, if such legally responsible person is not available, a person with whom the respondent resides, appear on the adjourned date. Upon receiving the report, for good cause, the court may order further reports and may require further appearances of the person legally responsible for the respondent's care or, if such person legally responsible is not available, a person with whom the respondent resides. Upon receiving the initial or any subsequent report, the court shall set forth in writing its findings of fact as to the efforts, if any, made up to that date to secure the respondent's appearance in court. S 315.1. Motion to dismiss; defective petition. 1. A petition or a count thereof is defective when: (a) it does not substantially conform to the requirements stated in sections 311.1 and 311.2; provided that a petition may not be dismissed as defective, but must instead be amended when the defect or irregularity is of a kind that may be cured by amendment pursuant to section 311.5, and where the presentment agency moves to so amend; or (b) the allegations demonstrate that the court does not have jurisdiction of the crime charged; or (c) the statute defining the crime charged is unconstitutional or otherwise invalid. 2. An order dismissing a petition as defective may be issued upon motion of the respondent or of the court itself. 3. A motion to dismiss under this section must be made within the time provided for in section 332.2. S 315.2. Motion to dismiss in furtherance of justice. 1. A petition or any part or count thereof may at any time be dismissed in furtherance of justice when, even though there may be no basis for dismissal as a matter of law, such dismissal is required as a matter of judicial discretion by the existence of some compelling further consideration or circumstances clearly demonstrating that a finding of delinquency or continued proceedings would constitute or result in injustice. In determining whether such compelling further consideration or circumstances exist, the court shall, to the extent applicable, examine and consider, individually and collectively, the following: (a) the seriousness and circumstances of the crime; (b) the extent of harm caused by the crime; (c) any exceptionally serious misconduct of law enforcement personnel in the investigation and arrest of the respondent or in the presentment of the petition; (d) the history, character and condition of the respondent; (e) the needs and best interest of the respondent; (f) the need for protection of the community; and (g) any other relevant fact indicating that a finding would serve no useful purpose. 2. An order dismissing a petition in the interest of justice may be issued upon motion of the presentment agency, the court itself or of the respondent. Upon issuing such an order, the court must set forth its reasons therefor upon the record. 3. Such a motion brought by the presentment agency or the respondent must be in writing and may be filed at any time subsequent to the filing of the petition. Notice of the motion shall be served upon the opposing party not less than eight days prior to the return date of the motion. Answering affidavits shall be served at least two days prior to the return date of such motion. S 315.3. Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. 1. Except where the petition alleges that the respondent has committed a designated felony act, the court may at any time prior to the entering of a finding under section 352.1 and with the consent of the respondent order that the proceeding be "adjourned in contemplation of dismissal". An adjournment in contemplation of dismissal is an adjournment of the proceeding, for a period not to exceed six months, with a view to ultimate dismissal of the petition in furtherance of justice. Upon issuing such an order, providing such terms and conditions as the court deems appropriate, the court must release the respondent. The court may, as a condition of an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal order, in cases where the record indicates that the consumption of alcohol may have been a contributing factor, require the respondent to attend and complete an alcohol awareness program established pursuant to of subdivision (a) of section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law. The court may, as a condition of an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal order, in cases where the record indicates that the respondent is an eligible person as defined in section four hundred fifty-eight-l of the social services law and has allegedly committed an eligible offense as defined in such section, direct the respondent to attend and complete an education reform program established pursuant to section four hundred fifty-eight-l of the social services law. Upon ex parte motion by the presentment agency, or upon the court's own motion, made at the time the order is issued or at any time during its duration, the court may restore the matter to the calendar. If the proceeding is not restored, the petition is, at the expiration of the order, deemed to have been dismissed by the court in furtherance of justice. 2. Rules of court shall define the permissible terms and conditions which may be included in an order that the proceeding be adjourned in contemplation of dismissal; such permissible terms and conditions may include supervision by the probation service, a requirement that the respondent cooperate with a mental health, social services or other appropriate community facility or agency to which the respondent may be referred and a requirement that the respondent comply with such other reasonable conditions as the court shall determine to be necessary or appropriate to ameliorate the conduct which gave rise to the filing of the petition or to prevent placement with the commissioner of social services or the division for youth. 3. An order adjourning a petition in contemplation of dismissal may be issued upon motion of the presentment agency, the court itself, or the respondent. Upon issuing such an order, the court must set forth its reasons therefor upon the record. Top of Page
The laws of the State of New York are consistently amended, repealed and/or entirely rewritten. This site strives to publish the current laws; however, official reporters should be consulted for the most up-to-date statutory language. No warranties, express or implied, or representations as to the accuracy of content on this website are made. This website and its owners assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omission in the information contained in the website or the operation of the website.