Juvenile Court Act guaranteed the child the right of trial by jury, when requested. Cases would come before the juvenile court by petition of "any respectable person" having knowledge of a dependent, neglected or delinquent child. A written petition had to be filed with the clerk of the court. The court could then issue a summons for the parent or guardian of the child, with the magistrate transferring the child into custody of the juvenile court upon arrest (Hawes, 1971, p. 165-175).
The Illinois act provided that judges could send the child only to institutions that were under the supervision of the Illinois Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities. The child was to be treated in a manner as nearly as possible approximating parental treatment, which included placing the child in an improved family home. The Act encouraged judges to be flexible and innovative in doing what was best for the welfare of the child (namely a family home, preferably the parents). Thus, a spirit of experi mentalism made this law unique, as did the embracing of the co
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