Idaho

Delinquency proceedings and records: Idaho law approaches juvenile delinquency proceedings differently depending on the minor’s age and nature of the criminal offense. All proceedings against a juvenile offender who is 14 years old or older and charged with an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult are open to the public. In addition, the court docket, petitions, complaints, information, arraignments, trials, sentencings, probation violation hearings and dispositions, motions and other papers filed in such a case are open, as well as transcripts of testimony taken by the court, findings, verdicts, judgments, orders, decrees and other papers filed in such proceedings. Only after a finding of extraordinary circumstances may a judge close such a proceeding or records. In cases where the juvenile offender is 13 years old or younger or 14 years old or older and charged with a crime that would not be a felony if committed by an adult, records and court proceedings are closed to the public if the court says so in writing. Idaho Code Ann. § 20-525 (2012); Idaho Ct. Admin. R. 32(g)(9)(B)(1).

Dependency proceedings and records: The general public is excluded from juvenile dependency proceedings, and only those people whom the court finds to have a direct interest in the case may be admitted. Idaho Code Ann. § 16-1613. Records of dependency proceedings are closed and available only to certain individuals and agencies designated by statute and with permission of the court to those who can show that such access is in the best interests of the child. Id. § 16-1626.

Restrictions on coverage: Idaho law allows witnesses 12 years old or younger to testify in a criminal or noncriminal proceeding by an alternative method to in-court testimony. The statute does not specify whether the media and public may be present when this testimony is given via the alternative method, which also is not specified in the law. Id. § 9-1802, 9-1805.