Discuss the current trends in regard to the privacy of juvenile records. Do you think that juvenile records should be available to the public? Explain why or why not

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• The juvenile record itself, or information contained in it, can be opened by court order in many jurisdictions on the basis of statutory exception.
• The following groups can ordinarily gain access to juvenile records: (a) law enforcement personnel, (b) the child's attorney, (c) the parents or guardians, (d) military personnel, and (e) public agencies such as schools, court-related organizations, and correctional institutions.
• Many states have enacted laws authorizing a central repository for juvenile arrest records; states also began to allow more juveniles to be fingerprinted and photographed.
• Nearly all states now allow juvenile fingerprints to be included in criminal history records, and nearly all states authorize juveniles to be photographed for later identification.
• Today, most states recognize the importance of juvenile records in sentencing; many first-time adult offenders committed numerous crimes as juveniles, and evidence of these crimes may not be available to sentencing for the adult offenses unless states pass statutes allowing access.
• Knowledge of a defendant's juvenile record may help prosecutors and judges determine appropriate sentencing for offenders ages 18 to 24, the age group most likely to be involved in violent crime.
• According to the experts the need for confidentiality to protect juveniles is far less than the need to open up the courts to public scrutiny. The problem of maintaining confidentiality of juvenile records will become more acute in the future as electronic information storage makes these records both more durable and more accessible.
• Student views will vary