Juvenile access chart
The following chart provides at-a-glance information about the right of access to juvenile courts in each state. As with the remainder of this guide, it approaches the issue from the point of view of members of the news media. It is designed to supplement, not serve as a substitute for, the in-depth information included for each jurisdiction. Keep in mind that in many states, the media must file a motion or otherwise notify the court of their intent to attend - and, where relevant, bring cameras or other recording devices into - a particular proceeding. Also be aware that the chart does not indicate the extent of information available in those jurisdictions where juvenile court or law enforcement records may be publicly disclosed. The language should be interpreted as follows: Where the information indicates that certain proceedings and records are generally open, there is a right of public access except in certain circumstances where, for example, a judge determines that closure is necessary to protect the interests of the child involved; Conversely, where the information indicates that certain proceedings and records are not generally open, there is not a right of public access except in certain circumstances where, for example, the court finds that an individual has a legitimate interest in the case or in the work of the court and thus should be admitted; Where a box indicates “certain offenses and ages” or “certain child abuse and neglect,” for example, there is a right of public access to those proceedings or records where they involve, respectively, certain statutorily designated offenses committed by juveniles of a certain statutorily designated age and certain statutorily designated cases involving child abuse or neglect; The ≥ symbol followed by a number indicates a juvenile of that age or older, i.e., “ ≥ 14 and felony” indicates a delinquency case involving a juvenile 14 years old or older charged with a felony offense if committed by an adult; and Where there is no information beneath the column about law enforcement records, the relevant law does not address the right of public access to police or other criminal-agency records.
|
State |
Delinquency proceedings generally open? |
Dependency proceedings generally open? |
Delinquency records generally open? |
Law enforcement records generally open? |
Dependency records |
Cameras in juvenile court? |
|
Alabama |
no |
no |
statistics only |
|
statistics only |
no |
|
Alaska |
no |
yes |
no |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Arizona |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Arkansas |
yes |
no |
statistics only |
felonies |
|
no |
|
California |
violent crimes |
yes |
if proceeding was open; violent crime |
≥ 14 and serious felony |
certain abuse and neglect; if proceeding was open |
no |
|
Colorado |
yes |
yes |
no |
certain offenses; tried as an adult; escaped |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Connecticut |
yes |
yes |
no |
escaped; wanted for felony |
no |
no |
|
Delaware |
felonies |
no |
certain offenses |
felonies and serious misdemeanors |
no |
no |
|
District of Columbia |
yes |
yes |
no |
|
no |
no |
|
Florida |
yes |
yes |
statistics only |
felonies and repeat misdemeanors |
statistics only |
no |
|
Georgia |
yes |
yes |
certain offenses |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
yes |
|
Hawaii |
no |
no |
certain offenses and ages |
|
no |
no |
|
Idaho |
≥ 14 and felony |
no |
≥ 14 and felony |
|
no |
no |
|
Illinois |
yes |
yes |
certain offenses and ages |
tried as an adult |
no |
no |
|
Indiana |
felonies |
yes |
certain offenses and ages |
yes |
certain abuse and neglect; threat to community |
no |
|
Iowa |
yes |
yes |
no |
tried as an adult |
certain abuse and neglect |
yes |
|
Kansas |
≥ 16 |
termination of parental rights |
certain offenses and ages |
certain offenses and ages |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Kentucky |
no |
no |
no |
no |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Louisiana |
certain offenses |
no |
statistics only |
certain offenses and ages; escaped; wanted for serious offenses |
no |
no |
|
Maine |
certain offenses |
no |
if proceeding was open |
at time of charging |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Maryland |
felonies |
no |
no |
|
no |
no |
|
Massachusetts |
murder or by indictment |
no |
if by indictment |
certain offenses and ages |
no |
no |
|
Michigan |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
no |
no |
|
Minnesota |
≥ 16 and felony |
yes |
≥ 16 and felony |
|
yes |
no |
|
Mississippi |
no |
no |
certain offenses |
at time of custody; missing; abducted; statistics |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Missouri |
certain offenses |
yes |
certain offenses |
tried as an adult; certain offenses |
yes |
no |
|
Montana |
yes |
not specified |
yes |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Nebraska |
not specified |
not specified |
yes |
|
yes |
yes |
|
Nevada |
yes |
depends on location |
if proceeding was open; certain offenses |
|
no |
no |
|
New Hampshire |
no |
no |
certain offenses and ages |
escaped |
no |
no |
|
New Jersey |
transfer hearings only |
no |
certain offenses |
|
no |
no |
|
New Mexico |
yes |
yes |
no |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
New York |
yes |
yes |
no |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
North Carolina |
yes |
no |
no |
runaway |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
North Dakota |
contempt; certain transfer hearings |
no |
if proceeding was open; general, non-identifying information |
tried as an adult; escaped; wanted for felony; general, non-identifying information |
general, non-identifying information |
no |
|
Ohio |
yes |
yes |
tried as an adult; if proceeding was open; certain offenses |
|
no |
yes |
|
Oklahoma |
certain offenses |
no |
certain offenses and ages |
certain offenses and ages |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Oregon |
yes |
yes |
limited info. |
|
certain abuse and neglect; limited information |
no |
|
Pennsylvania |
certain offenses and ages |
no |
certain offenses and ages |
if court records are open; tried as an adult |
no |
no |
|
Rhode Island |
no |
no |
tried as an adult; convicted in juvenile court |
tried as an adult; convicted in juvenile court |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
South Carolina |
no |
no |
tried as an adult; certain offenses |
tried as an adult; certain offenses; escaped |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
South Dakota |
≥ 16 and violent crime |
no |
no |
tried as an adult; criminally convicted |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Tennessee |
yes |
yes |
≥ 14 and certain offenses; traffic violations |
tried as an adult |
certain abuse and neglect |
yes |
|
Texas |
≥ 14 |
not specified |
missing; wanted |
missing; wanted |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Utah |
≥ 14 and certain offense |
yes |
≥ 14 and felony |
|
no |
no |
|
Vermont |
no |
no |
tried as an adult |
tried as an adult |
no |
no |
|
Virginia |
≥ 14 and felony; adult charged with a crime |
no |
≥ 14 and certain offenses |
≥ 14 and certain offenses; escaped |
no |
no |
|
Washington |
yes |
no |
yes |
|
no |
no |
|
West Virginia |
no |
no |
tried as an adult; certain offenses |
|
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Wisconsin |
no |
no |
no |
escaped; general, non-identifying information |
certain abuse and neglect |
no |
|
Wyoming |
contempt |
no |
tried as an adult; certain offenses |
|
no |
no |
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