Filing Documents tab: Petition of Delinquency

This tab provides the ability to create the petition that you intend to file with the court. The Filing Documents tab automatically identifies this document by name and provides a semi-automated way to fill out this document electronically. This association of a document to your filing is the most critical part of the PACFile process since no filing can be submitted without it.

Completing the Petition

One of the benefits of filing a petition through PACFile is that it is designed to fill out the Petition Alleging Delinquency electronically, based on the information that is entered throughout the wizard.

Unlike the blank paper version of this form, this electronic version automatically displays the available case participant information in the appropriate locations. This includes the name and identifying information recorded for the juvenile, the petitioner's name (your office), the parent guardian information, and the alleged offenses.

Under the Document(s) column, click the Fillable Form icon for the Petition Alleging Delinquency filing type. The Fillable Form screen displays. The following includes tips for completing the screen. Additional steps may be necessary, so be sure to review the screen in its entirety:

  • Click the VIEW DRAFT button at any time to display a preview of the form. the PDF of the form is generated. Once the filing is submitted, it cannot be edited. Therefore, use this preview to ensure the form is correct before completing your filing. Close the draft and continue making changes as necessary on the Fillable Form screen.

  • Use the In the Interest Of section to describe the juvenile if their name, address, and date of birth are unknown.

  • Use the Case Information section to indicate if the juvenile has been fingerprinted or photographed, if laboratory services are requested, and if the case is eligible for limited public information.

  • Use the Custody and Whereabouts of the Juvenile section to indicate if the juvenile is in custody. If custody is selected, additional fields display to record additional details, including the whereabouts of the juvenile.

  • In the Petitioner Signature section, your name is preceded by a "/s/". This symbol, when followed by your name, is an established way to indicate that you have signed an electronic document.

  • (Optional) Once the form fields are complete, use the Print icon Print icon in the toolbar of the PDF to produce a hardcopy for your records. Alternatively, you can save an electronic copy by using the Download icon Download icon in the toolbar of the PDF.

  • Click OK at the bottom of the Fillable Form screen to save the recorded details.

  • Prior to submitting the filing, you can return to the Fillable Form screen and make additional changes by clicking on the Fillable Form icon again. This is useful if new information on the case is brought to light before you submit the filing or if you needed to verify some information for the form before continuing.

 

 

Uploading a Proof of Service and Other Documents

You are required to upload at least one document to a petition of delinquency filing, the proof of service. Whenever service is required on any Common Pleas court filing, you are required to create your own proof of service document and upload to it PACFile as a PDF. After saving this electronic document to your computer or a storage device connected to your computer (i.e. shared drive or a memory stick) it can then be associated to the filing by using the Manage Documents icon Manage Documents icon that appears next to the Proof of Service filing type.

The Document Management screen opens. Click the Add Document icon Add Document icon above the Document(s) grid, then click the CHOOSE FILE button. A popup screen opens that allows you to browse to the location where you saved your document(s). Only one document can be selected at any given time, but you can repeat this process if you need to upload multiple documents to a given filing type. If this situation does not apply, do not add any unnecessary documents.

If additional documents need to be filed on the case, beyond the petition and proof of service, these can also be associated to your filing by completing the following:

1. 

Click on the Add Optional Filing icon Add Optional Filing icon.

2. 

In the Document Management popup screen, click on the Filing Type dropdown and choose the type that best describes the document you want to upload to your filing.

3. 

Select the Is Included checkbox.

4. 

Click the Add Document icon Add Document icon to add the new filing type.

5. 

Click the CHOOSE File button.

6. 

Upload or attach an electronic document to these filing types using the processes described above.

7. 

Click on the Confidentiality dropdown and choose the option that describes the document as it relates to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania ("Policy").

8. 

Click the SAVE button.

 

 

Document Confidentiality

After uploading a document to your filing, a dropdown menu appears to the right of the document’s name. You must select one of the following options that describes the document as it relates to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania ("Policy"):

Confidentialities

  • Not Confidential - Unredacted - The document contains no confidential information or redactions based on Section 7.0 of the Policy and is not considered a confidential document under Section 8.0.

  • Redacted - The document contains confidential information (i.e., social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial account numbers, etc.) that has been redacted based on Section 7.0 of the Policy. The sensitive information must be redacted and replaced with alternative references, which are indirect citations that refer to the unredacted information on a corresponding Confidential Information Form. When a redacted document is added to a filing, a Confidential Information Form must be uploaded separately and categorized as Confidential Information Form.

  • Confidential - Unredacted - The document contains sensitive information that is visible to a reader. Unless the corresponding case is exempted from public access, an unredacted confidential document must be submitted with a redacted version or a Confidential Document Form.

  • Confidential Document - The document is considered wholly confidential based on Section 8.0 of the Policy. These documents (i.e., financial source documents, a minor’s educational records, medical records, etc.) contain sensitive information that is visible to any reader. When a confidential document is added to a filing, a Confidential Document Form must be uploaded separately and categorized as Confidential Document Form.

  • Confidential Document Form - Refers to the standardized cover page that identifies the submission of one or more documents considered wholly confidential by Section 8.0 of the Policy (i.e., financial source documents, a minor’s educational records, medical records, etc.). When a Confidential Document Form is added to a filing, the confidential document(s) should be uploaded separately and categorized as Confidential Document.

  • Confidential Information Form - Refers to the standardized document that contains any sensitive information (i.e., social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial account numbers, etc.) that was redacted in a corresponding document based on Section 7.0 of the Policy. When a Confidential Information Form is added to a filing, the redacted document must be uploaded separately and categorized as Redacted.

If you are submitting a filing with either of the following document combinations, it must be stressed that each document must be uploaded separately, to the same Filing Type, and with distinct confidentialities.

1. 

A Confidential Document Form and the corresponding confidential document.

2. 

A Confidential Information Form and the corresponding redacted document.

 

 

Viewing Uploaded documents

After uploading a document to a PACFiling, you may want to view it in order to verify that the correct document was selected. You can view a document through the Documents(s) column of the Filing Documents tab, by clicking the Document icon Document icon for the corresponding filing.

 

 

Removing Documents

Any document that has been created or upload can be removed from the PACFiling on the Document Management screen by clicking the corresponding Delete icon Delete icon.