State-by-state guide:

Florida

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 985.205 (1998): In general, all hearings are open to the public, and the public can only be excluded by court order. The court has the power to close a hearing if this would best serve the public interest and the welfare of the child.

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 985.04 (1998): Juvenile records regarding a child found to have committed a delinquent act are to be sealed by the court. However, such records may be inspected upon court order. A law enforcement agency may release the name, picture and address of a child charged with an offense which would constitute a felony, or three or more offenses which would constitute misdemeanors if committed by an adult.

Detention hearing: Print and broadcast media have a right to attend and the photograph detention hearing for juvenile charged with murdering his parents, but they cannot take or broadcast the juvenile’s face. In re B.P., 9 Media L. Rep. 1151 (Fla. 4th Cir. Ct. 1983).

Access granted: The District Court of Appeal held that the father and minor had right to obtain, at father’s expense, copy of court file and requested transcripts from juvenile delinquency proceeding against minor, especially when case did not involve particularized finding of need to withhold portions of records or transcripts to protect minor from harm. T.T. v. State, 689 So. 2d 1209, 1211 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App.1996).