State-by-state guide:
Connecticut
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 46b-122 (1997): Judge shall exclude from a juvenile hearing people not necessary to the proceeding.
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 46b-124 (1998): All juvenile court records are confidential. However, records can be inspected pursuant to a court order by any person who has a legitimate interest in the information.
Forbidding publication: Statutes intended to protect juveniles from publicity about their crimes do not forbid the press from disclosing any information which came into its possession lawfully. In re Juvenile Appeal, 488 A.2d 778 (Conn. 1985).
Access denied: The Supreme Court of Connecticut held that the strong presumption of confidentiality of juvenile records established in § 46b-124 and the privacy interests implicated therein justified a narrow construction of the discretion afforded a trial court with regard to releasing information without the express written consent of the parties concerned. The court concluded that until other alternatives had been exhausted, it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to have granted a movant access to information from juvenile files. In re Sheldon G., 583 A.2d 112 (Conn. 1990).
Access denied: A Connecticut Superior Court denied a defendant’s request to review and disclose material from the records of the Department of Children and Families. State v. Cutler, CR 9660866, 1998 Conn. Super. LEXIS 3365 (Conn. Sup. Ct. Nov. 24, 1998).
Access granted: A Connecticut Superior Court held that like a victim in adult court, the victim in juvenile court will have access to the delinquent’s name and address by virtue of access to the juvenile court file. Moreover, the names and addresses of the juvenile’s parents are open to access by the victim. If such information is not contained in the court file, the court may, in its discretion, release the names and addresses of the parents if the victim demonstrates a legitimate interest in the information. However, the victim does not have the right to the release of any and all information contained in the prosecutor’s case file. The prosecutor’s case file is not filed with the clerk of court’s office and, therefore, it is not a public record, nor available to disclosure to the victim and/or public. Finally, although the court may order documents from juvenile records to be released, the victim may not disclose any information contained in the records to anyone else. Therefore, according to the court, a victim is not permitted to use the actual records or documents released by the juvenile court in a civil action for damages. State v Humberto N., 1998 Conn. Super. LEXIS 1101 (Conn. Sup. Ct. April 16, 1998).
Access denied: A Connecticut Superior Court held that police department records are not to be released unless they are a part of "records of cases of juvenile matters." The court found that nothing in the record in this case suggested that the requested documents were records of juvenile court matters. Glastonbury Police Department v. Freedom of Information Commission, CV 970570076, 1998 Conn. Super. LEXIS 867 (March 25, 1998).
Access denied: The Connecticut Superior Court held that the respondent could not receive the confidential Department of Children and Families and juvenile court records sought in a civil termination of parental rights. In re James T. Jr., 1997 Conn Super. LEXIS 2368 (Conn. Sup. Ct. Aug. 18, 1997).