People v. Pikunas

Pound, Ch. J.

The record in this case is not a satisfactory one on which to deprive a fifteen-year old child of her liberty, with proper regard for due legal process. Juvenile delinquency is not a crime and the acts charged here do not involve any crime. (Children’s Court Act [L. 1922, ch. 547, as amd. L. 1930, ch. 393], § 45; Penal Law, § 2186.) The strict rules of criminal procedure for the protection of parties accused of crime are, therefore, inapplicable to the proceedings. Full and complete records must be kept. (Children’s Court Act, § 45.) Some degree of informality is to be expected.…