The Juvenile Courts in Pennsylvania have authority over children between the ages of birth and 18 years of age who are in jeopardy because of their circumstances or surroundings such as children who are abandoned, abused, neglected, or with proper parental guidance or supervision, and children who may be incorrigible, runaways from home our truants. This group of children is classified as dependent children.
Children who are between the ages of 10 and 18 years of age and who are charged with committing a misdemeanor or felony offense also come under the authority of the Juvenile Act as delinquent children.