Rule Text
A. Summons. The court shall issue a summons compelling the juvenile and the juvenile’s guardian to appear for the adjudicatory hearing.
B. Notice. Notice of the adjudicatory hearing shall be given to:
1) the attorney for the Commonwealth;
2) the juvenile’s attorney;
3) the juvenile probation office; and
4) the victim.
C. Requirements. The general summons and notice procedures of Rule 124 shall be followed.
Amendment history: The provisions of this Rule 360 amended February 26, 2008, effective June 1, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 1142; amended May 26, 2011, effective July 1, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 3180. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (332730).
Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)
This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
When a juvenile case is scheduled for an adjudicatory hearing (which is like a trial for juveniles), the court must send an official summons to both the juvenile and their parent or guardian. This summons legally requires them to show up to the hearing.
The court also sends notices to several other people so they know about the hearing. These include the prosecutor, the juvenile's lawyer, the juvenile probation office, and the victim of the alleged offense.
The court follows the standard rules for how summons and notices must be sent out, which are spelled out in Rule 124.
Committee Notes
Section 6335 of the Juvenile Act provides that the court is to direct the issuance of a summons to the juvenile, guardian, and any other persons as appears to the court to be proper and necessary for the proceedings. 42 Pa.C.S. § 6335.
The guardian’s failure to appear should not prevent the adjudicatory hearing from proceeding.
The attorney for the Commonwealth or its designee is to notify the victim of the date, time, place, and purpose of the adjudicatory hearing. See Victim’s Bill of Rights, 18 P. S. § 11.201 et seq.
Any persons may be subpoenaed to appear for the hearing. See Rule 123 and 42 Pa.C.S. § 6333.
Rule 360 adopted April 1, 2005, effective October 1, 2005. Amended February 26, 2008, effective June 1, 2008. Amended May 26, 2011, effective July 1, 2011.
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 360 published with the Court’s Order at 38 Pa.B. 1142 (March 8, 2008).
Final Report explaining the amendments to Rule 360 published with the Court’s Order at 41 Pa.B. 3180 (June 25, 2011).
