Purpose
§ 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.
Two goals, with due process: (a) decide whether a person is a juvenile delinquent, and (b) enter an appropriate disposition if they are. ★ The court must weigh both the needs and best interests of the respondent AND the need to protect the community — this dual test echoes through the whole article.
Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.
This provision appears in Volume 5 — The JG-22 Family Court Act and in Volume 1 — The JG-22 in Plain English.