State-by-state guide:

Virginia

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-302 (1998): The general public shall be excluded from all juvenile court hearings. However, persons that the judge deems proper may be admitted. Moreover, proceedings in cases involving an adult charged with a crime and hearings where the juvenile is 14 and committed a crime which would be a felony if committed by an adult shall be open. If good cause exists, the court may on its own or on motion of the accused or the attorney for the Commonwealth, close the proceedings. If the proceedings are closed, the court shall state in writing its reasons and the statement shall be made a part of the public record. In hearings involving criminal charges or traffic violations, the juvenile charged can choose to have a public hearing.

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-305 (1998): Court records are not open to public inspection except by court order to persons with a legitimate interest in the case or the court’s work. However, if a juvenile is 14 years of age and committed an act which would be a felony if committed by an adult, all court records regarding that adjudication and any subsequent adjudication of delinquency shall be open to the public. If a hearing was closed, the judge may order that certain records remain confidential to the extent necessary to protect any juvenile victim or juvenile witness.

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-301 (1998): Law-enforcement records concerning a juvenile are not open to the public unless a juvenile is 14 years of age or older and was charged with a violent felony. The court may also allow records to be inspected by persons who have a legitimate interest in the case or in the work of the law-enforcement agency.

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-309.1 (1998): Where consideration of public interest requires, the judge shall make available to the public the name and address of a juvenile and the nature of the offense for which a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent, if the juvenile was found delinquent for certain felonies if they had been committed by an adult or in any case where a juvenile is sentenced as an adult in circuit court. If the juvenile who is charged with committing a felony becomes a fugitive, the court may release the juvenile’s name, age, physical description and photograph, the charge for which he is sought or for which he was adjudicated and any other information which may expedite his apprehension.

Access to records: Juvenile courts must try and balance the public’s right to access and potential harm which access might cause. In re Richmond Newspapers Inc., 16 Media L. Rep. 1049 (Va. Cir. Ct. 1988).

Cameras in the courtroom: In a juvenile case, a decision to permit cameras in the courtroom rests with the sound discretion of the trial court, and absent a showing of prejudice of constitutional dimensions, the mere presence of cameras does not result in an unfair trial. Novak v. Commonwealth, 457 S.E.2d 402 (Va. Ct. App. 1995).