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1998 SESSION

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SB 653 Juvenile court proceedings; records.

Introduced by: John S. Edwards | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Juvenile court proceedings; records. Requires the circuit court to keep separate files for cases involving support which are on appeal from the juvenile court. The bill specifies the parties entitled to inspect the separate files for cases on appeal from the juvenile court. The bill also clarifies when juvenile court hearings can be open. The bill also corrects an inconsistency and conforms the provisions governing confidentiality of records from delinquency proceedings involving juveniles 14 or older to make them the same in both the juvenile and the circuit courts. In either court the judge may close the proceedings for cause, but not over objection of the juvenile defendant. In the circuit court, if the proceedings are closed, all records therefrom remain closed. Under current law, if proceedings in the juvenile court are closed, the records are nonetheless open unless the court enters an order upon finding that confidentiality is necessary to protect a juvenile victim or a juvenile witness. In addition to the conflict between the provisions in each court, it should be noted that current law affords no protection to adult victims and witnesses in the juvenile courts.


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