1082                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 432

70.

The purposes of this subtitle are:

(1)    To provide for the care, protection and wholesome mental
and physical development of children coming within the provisions
of this subtitle;

(2)    To remove from children committing delinquent acts the
taint of criminality and the consequences of criminal behavior, and
to substitute therefor a program of treatment, training, and
rehabilitation consistent with the protection of the public interest;

(3)    To place a child in a wholesome family environment when-
ever possible;

(4.) To separate a child from his parents only when necessary
for his welfare or in the interests of public safety;

(5) To provide judicial procedures for carrying out the provi-
sions of this subtitle.

This subtitle shall be liberally construed to effectuate these pur-
poses.

70-1.

(a) As used in this subtitle, unless the context otherwise re-
quires, the words and phrases in this section have the meanings
listed.

(A) "COUNTY" MEANS EACH COUNTY IN THE STATE
AND THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

(b)    "Minor" means a person who has not reached his 21st birth-
day.

(c)    "Child" means a person who has not reached his 18th birth-
day, except in Baltimore City, where, until July 1,1071 1970, "child"
means a person who has not reached his 16th birthday.

(d)    "Adult means a person who has reached his 21st birthday.

(e) "Court" means the Juvenile Court, or that division of the

highest Court of general trial jurisdiction specially assigned to hear
juvenile causes.

(E) "PARTY" MEANS A CHILD NAMED IN A PETITION,
OR HIS PARENT, GUARDIAN OR CUSTODIAN.

(f)    "Judge" means the judge exercising juvenile court juris-
diction.

(g)    "Delinquent act" means an act which is in violation of
Article 66½ of this code, any other traffic violation, or an act which
would be a crime if done by a person who is not a child.

(h) "Delinquent child" means a child who commits a delinquent
act and who requires supervision, treatment, or rehabilitation.

(i) "Child in need of supervision" means a child:

(1) subject to compulsory school attendance who is habitually
and without justification truant from school;