State-by-state guide:

Kansas

Kan. Stat. Ann. § 38-1652 (1997): If the juvenile is at least 16 years old at the time of the offense, the proceeding is open to the public. If the juvenile is younger, the court can exclude the public if it is in the best interest of the child. However, if all interested parties agree, the public may attend unless the court determines this would disrupt the proceedings.

Kan. Stat. Ann. § 38-1607 (1997): If the juvenile is at least 14 years old at the time of the offense, his/her juvenile file is open to the public. Information that identifies victims of sex offenses, however, is closed to the public. If the juvenile is less than 14 years of age, the file is open to public except if the judge "determines that opening the official file for public inspection is not in the best interest of such juvenile." In addition, the Kansas state historical society is allowed to take possession of any court records related to proceedings under the Kansas juvenile justice code whenever such records otherwise would be destroyed. The Kansas state historical society shall make available for public inspection any unexpunged docket entry or official file in its custody concerning any juvenile 16 or more years of age. No other such records in the custody of the Kansas state historical society shall be disclosed directly or indirectly to anyone for 80 years after creation of the records, except as provided in this statute. See In re J.T.M., 22 Kan. App. 2d 673, 922 P.2d 1103 (1996) (holding that charges against juvenile were matter of public record).

Closure order: Kansas trial court was correct in closing detention hearing for two youths over age 15, based on conclusion that § 38-1652 applies only to adjudicative proceedings and not detention hearings and in finding that evidence presented at the hearing was confidential under Kan. Stat. § 38-1607. Stauffer Communications, Inc. v. Mitchell, 246 Kan. 492, 789 P.2d 1153 (1990).