Bill > H3443

This bill makes changes to how records related to young people involved in the justice system are handled, aiming to increase their privacy. It clarifies that records concerning children involved in delinquency or youthful offender cases, as outlined in specific sections of Chapter 119, will not be considered public records. The bill also replaces existing sections of Chapter 119 to establish that adjudications of delinquency or youthful offender status, or any evidence or records from such cases, generally cannot be used against a child in future proceedings, except for specific impeachment purposes in subsequent delinquency, youthful offender, or criminal cases. Furthermore, state agencies and local government entities are prohibited from publicly displaying information about a child's arrest, detention, delinquency proceedings, adjudications, or adult sentences online, with an exception for sex offender registration requirements. All records related to these cases held by the juvenile court, probation office, parole officers, or other state agencies are to be kept confidential and not disclosed to the public, with penalties for unlawful release of such information. The bill also outlines conditions under which these records can be inspected or released, generally requiring a motion from the subject of the records or court discretion for care providers or researchers, and mandates automatic expungement of records for children found not to be delinquent or youthful offenders. Finally, it makes a technical amendment to another section of law to reflect these changes.