In Re Alexander

The order appealed from is based on a finding that respondent is a delinquent “in that he did commit larceny by taking one portable record player from S. H. Kress & Co.” The evidence presented was insufficient to support this finding.

While juvenile proceedings should not be equated to criminal prosecutions nor should a finding of delinquency in such a proceeding be deemed synonymous with conviction of a crime. In re Burrus, 275 N.C. 517, 169 S.E. 2d 879, nevertheless certain constitutional safeguards apply. In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 25 L. Ed. 2d 368, 90 S. Ct. 1068; In re Gault, 387 U.S.…