Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 63 - Juvenile Matters
Section 6304 - Powers and duties of probation officers

(a) General rule.--For the purpose of carrying out the objectives and purposes of this chapter, and subject to the limitations of this chapter or imposed by the court, a probation officer shall:
(1) Make investigations, reports, and recommendations to the court.
(2) Receive and examine complaints and charges of delinquency or dependency of a child for the purpose of considering the commencement of proceedings under this chapter.
(3) Supervise and assist a child placed on probation or in his protective supervision or care by order of the court or other authority of law.
(4) Make appropriate referrals to other private or public agencies of the community if their assistance appears to be needed or desirable.
(5) Take into custody and detain a child who is under his supervision or care as a delinquent or dependent child if the probation officer has reasonable cause to believe that the health or safety of the child is in imminent danger, or that he may abscond or be removed from the jurisdiction of the court, or when ordered by the court pursuant to this chapter or that he violated the conditions of his probation.
(6) Perform all other functions designated by this chapter or by order of the court pursuant thereto.
(a.1) Authority to search.--
(1) Probation officers may search the person and property of children:
(i) under their supervision as delinquent children or pursuant to a consent decree in accordance with this section;
(ii) taken into custody pursuant to subsection (a) and section 6324 (relating to taking into custody); and
(iii) detained pursuant to subsection (a) and section 6325 (relating to detention of child) or during the intake process pursuant to subsection (a) and section 6331 (relating to release from detention or commencement of proceedings) and in accordance with this section.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit searches or seizures in violation of the Constitution of the United States or section 8 of Article I of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
(3) No violation of this section shall constitute an independent ground for suppression of evidence in any proceeding.
(4) (i) A personal search of a child may be conducted by any probation officer:
(A) If there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that the child possesses contraband or other evidence of violations of the conditions of supervision.
(B) When a child is transported or taken into custody.
(C) When a child enters or leaves a detention center, institution or other facility for alleged or adjudicated delinquent children.
(ii) A property search may be conducted by any probation officer if there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the real or other property in the possession of or under the control of the child contains contraband or other evidence of violations of the conditions of supervision.
(iii) Prior approval of a supervisor shall be obtained for a property search absent exigent circumstances or unless the search is being conducted by a supervisor. No prior approval shall be required for a personal search.
(iv) A written report of every property search conducted without prior approval shall be prepared by the probation officer who conducted the search and filed in the child's case record. The exigent circumstances shall be stated in the report.
(v) The child may be detained if he is present during a property search. If the child is not present during a property search, the probation officer in charge of the search shall make a reasonable effort to provide the child with notice of the search, including a list of the items seized, after the search is completed.
(vi) The existence of reasonable suspicion to search shall be determined in accordance with constitutional search and seizure provisions as applied by judicial decision. In accordance with that case law, the following factors, where applicable, may be taken into account:
(A) The observations of officers.
(B) Information provided by others.
(C) The activities of the child.
(D) Information provided by the child.
(E) The experience of the probation officer with the child.
(F) The experience of probation officers in similar circumstances.
(G) The prior delinquent and supervisory history of the offender.
(H) The need to verify compliance with the conditions of supervision.
(b) Foreign jurisdictions.--Any of the functions specified in subsection (a) may be performed in another jurisdiction if authorized by the court of this Commonwealth and permitted by the laws of the other jurisdiction.
(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Conditions of supervision." A term or condition of a child's supervision, whether imposed by the court or a probation officer, including compliance with all requirements of Federal, State and local law.
"Contraband." An item that a child is not permitted to possess under the conditions of supervision, including an item whose possession is forbidden by any Federal, State or local law.
"Court." The court of common pleas or a judge thereof.
"Exigent circumstances." The term includes, but is not limited to, reasonable suspicion that contraband or other evidence of violations of the conditions of supervision might be destroyed or suspicion that a weapon might be used.
"Personal search." A warrantless search of a child's person, including, but not limited to, the child's clothing and any personal property which is in the possession, within the reach or under the control of the child.
"Probation officer." A probation officer appointed or employed by a court or by a county probation department.
"Property search." A warrantless search of real property, vehicle or personal property which is in the possession or under the control of a child.
"Supervisor." An individual acting in a supervisory or administrative capacity.
(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1705, No.215, eff. 60 days)

2002 Amendment. Section 8 of Act 215 provided that the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission shall develop best practice standards regarding searches of the person and property of children in order to implement the addition of subsec. (a.1).
Suspension by Court Rule. Subsection (a)(2) was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Juvenile Court Procedure No. 800(10), amended July 18, 2012, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rules 231 and 330 relating to written allegation and petition: filing, contents, function.
Cross References. Section 6304 is referred to in sections 6304.1, 9911 of this title; section 6375 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes