In re S. A.

60 Pa. D. & C.2d 55
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Alleghany County
DecidedJuly 25, 1972
Docketno. 1121-72
StatusPublished

This text of 60 Pa. D. & C.2d 55 (In re S. A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Alleghany County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re S. A., 60 Pa. D. & C.2d 55 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1972).

Opinion

TAMILIA, J.,

This is a proceeding pursuant to the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, 62 PS §731, et seq.; 32 D. C. Code §1101, et seq., for the return of S. A., a juvenile, to Washington, D. C. It is a matter for first instance in the Allegheny County court and because there is little precedent at any judicial level relating to the operation of this compact, a discussion is deemed warranted.

S. A. is a 16-year-old boy who participated in a demonstration in Washington, D. C., on April 15, 1972, in protest of the administration’s bombing of North Vietnam. In the course of this demonstration, he was arrested and incarcerated for a brief time and subsequently released to return to Allegheny County, where his parents reside. It is important for the purpose of our decision to note that S. A. was never adjudicated a delinquent on the charges for which he was arrested, those charges having been dismissed, and that the charges upon which the present proceedings are founded appear to involve the same transaction. While the earlier charge was summary in nature, and the latter charge a misdemeanor, a slight changing in wording and designation of charge appear to be the only distinguishing feature. The case came before this court upon a requisition directed to the Administrator of the Interstate Compact, Helene Wohlgemuth, who [57]*57is also the Secretary of Public Welfare for the State of Pennsylvania. Upon receipt of the petition for requisition from the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Division, a petition was filed in this court and notice was given to S. A. and his parents of a hearing to determine if the requisition was legally sufficient and the identity of the child the same as the person named in the requisition. S. A. was represented by counsel from Washington, D.C., and local counsel at a hearing before this court on July 11, 1972. Upon review of the testimony, arguments and briefs presented, it is the determination of this court that the petition for requisition must be denied and that, in the interest of the child, no further control or supervision of.the child can be justified. Corporation Counsel of Washington, D.C., was invited to participate in this proceeding because of the novel issues presented here, but he declined to present briefs, arguments or testimony in support of its requisition. This participation was not necessary as he had the right to rely on the allegations of the requisition and accompanying petition and affidavits. On their face, the documents were insufficient to support the requisition.

The requisition must fail for three fundamental reasons, each of which, standing alone, would have been a sufficient basis for denial. The reasons and a discussion of each follows.

1. The requisition fails because the Interstate Compact on Juveniles is based upon reciprocity in that the initiating and responding jurisdictions must have agreed between themselves to honor substantially similar provisions contained in the compact as legislated by each of the signatories to it. The provision relied upon by the Washington, D.C., authorities does not exist in the Pennsylvania enactment, and therefore Pennsylvania is powerless to honor the request.

[58]*582. The requisition fails because the recent United States Supreme Court decisions on double jeopardy and collateral estoppel require that once a charge is placed before a court of competent jurisdiction, and this charge has been dismissed, or if the charge could reasonably have been included as an additional charge with the initial proceeding because the elements of both charges are interchangeable and arising from the same actions, said dismissal or failure to proceed bars a subsequent action.

3. The requisition must fail as the intent of the interstate compact is remedial in nature rather than punitive and the basic consideration is the interest and welfare of the child. None of the allegations, petitions or facts presented in this court would warrant the return of S. A. to Washington, D.C., other than as a means of harassment or punishment as no decision in that court, under the juvenile court theory, could result in more than a reprimand or minimal probation, with supervision to be conducted by this court. These proceedings in and of themselves have accomplished the desired purpose.

There is no question of the validity of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles and its binding effect on the signatory States. While it has not received the approval of Congress, it is not repugnant to the third clause of Article I, sec. 10, of the Constitution of the United States, which prohibits States from entering into agreements or compacts with other States without the consent of Congress. The rule enunciated in Virginia v. Tennessee, 148 U.S. 503 (1893), provides that only those compacts which affect the political balance of the Federal system or affect a power delegated to the national government, require such consent. The Compact on Juveniles has no such effect. Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia are signa[59]*59tories to the Act of June 13, 1967, P. L. —, (No. 21), 62 PS §731 et seq.; 32 D.C. Code §1101, et seq., and have mutually agreed to honor those provisions common to both ratifications.

The basic act is comprised of five sections, with the major provisions being contained in the 16 articles of the first section. Article I, “Findings and Purposes,” provides as follows:

“. . . The cooperation of the states party to this compact is . . . necessary to provide for the welfare and protection of juveniles and of the public with respect to (1) cooperative supervision of delinquent juveniles on probation or parole [Art. VII]; (2) the return, from one state to another, of delinquent juveniles who have escaped or absconded [Art. V]; (3) the return, from one state to another, of nondelinquent juveniles who have run away from home [Art. IV]; and (4) additional measures for the protection of juveniles and of the public, which any two or more of the party states may find desirable to undertake cooperatively [Art. X, Art. XV]. . . .”

Article III, “Definitions,” provides “. . . ‘delinquent juvenile’ means any juvenile who has been adjudged delinquent and who, at the time the provisions of this compact are invoked, is still subject to the jurisdiction of the court that made such adjudication or to the jurisdiction or supervision of an agency or institution pursuant to an order of such court; . . .”

Article IV, “Return of Runaways,” provides “. . . In the event that a proceeding for the adjudication of the juvenile as a delinquent, neglected or dependent juvenile is pending in the court at the time when such juvenile runs away, the court may issue a requisition for the return of such juvenile upon its own motion

The above provisions detail the circumstances un[60]*60der which this court would be required to honor a petition of requisition for the return of S. A., none of which applies to his case.

The Washington, D.C., authorities rely upon a provision of Article XVII, titled “Additional Provisions,” contained in the Washington, D.C., Compact codification which is not contained in the Pennsylvania Compact. The additional provision reads as follows:

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Related

Virginia v. Tennessee
148 U.S. 503 (Supreme Court, 1893)
Benton v. Maryland
395 U.S. 784 (Supreme Court, 1969)
Ashe v. Swenson
397 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1970)

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Bluebook (online)
60 Pa. D. & C.2d 55, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-s-a-pactcomplallegh-1972.