Senate Bill 169
LIMITING TIME THAT JUVENILES ARE KEPT IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENTS
Senate Bill 169 Bill Information
SB 169 PN 159 Senate Fiscal Note | House Fiscal Note
Enacted as Act 107 of 2024
Description: SB 169 would require courts to hold disposition review hearings at least every three months for the purpose of ensuring that each child committed to out-of-home placement is receiving necessary services and treatment.
PA Justice Alliance Member Positions & Feedback
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Email to Senate (9/17/2024): This bill is based on a recommendation of the PA Juvenile Justice Task Force and represents an important step toward improving outcomes for children and communities.
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The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force found that out-of-home placement consumes the vast majority of taxpayer spending on juvenile justice even though home-based services are generally more effective. Incarcerated and institutionalized children are vulnerable to violence and abuse.
This bill mandates that juvenile courts continue to review out-of-home placements every three months, instead of every nine months, to ensure, among other things, that the adjudicated child is receiving services and programming contemplated at the time of placement and that out-of-home placement remains appropriate.
Increasing the frequency of such reviews empowers juvenile courts to identify earlier those instances in which youth are able to return to community and to better ensure the child is receiving appropriate care and services in support of their individualized rehabilitative needs.
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