Juvenile records could be public
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
The criminal records of some juveniles could become public record under legislation passed by a Senate committee on Tuesday.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Norman said parents and school officials are often at a disadvantage, not knowing the history of juvenile delinquents in their neighborhoods and schools.
“They’re basically shut at every opportunity from ever finding out anything about it,” Norman told the Senate Committee on Judiciary A.
Norman said under the law, there is little that he, as the chief law enforcement officer in Jefferson Parish, is able to talk about publicly.
Senate Bill 716 would open to the public any records or reports related to a child who is at least 14 years of age at the time the child committed a crime of violence, a second or subsequent felony offense, or distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute a dangerous substance.
SB716 would maintain the confidentiality of all medical, psychiatric, and psychological evaluations, along with any information in the records and reports relating to any other child.
Norman said historically there has been a balance of interests — protecting the juvenile’s ability to be rehabilitated and against being branded publicly.
“However, I think that balance of interest is out of kilter today,” he said. “Because the level of violence, the level of delinquency, the aggressive nature, the access to guns, the drug dealing and everything else has shifted, I believe that we need to have a little more heightened concern about our residents at large in dealing with this particular sector of the community.”
SB716, sponsored by Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, was approved without objection and now moves to the Senate floor for debate.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Norman said parents and school officials are often at a disadvantage, not knowing the history of juvenile delinquents in their neighborhoods and schools.
“They’re basically shut at every opportunity from ever finding out anything about it,” Norman told the Senate Committee on Judiciary A.
Norman said under the law, there is little that he, as the chief law enforcement officer in Jefferson Parish, is able to talk about publicly.
Senate Bill 716 would open to the public any records or reports related to a child who is at least 14 years of age at the time the child committed a crime of violence, a second or subsequent felony offense, or distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute a dangerous substance.
SB716 would maintain the confidentiality of all medical, psychiatric, and psychological evaluations, along with any information in the records and reports relating to any other child.
Norman said historically there has been a balance of interests — protecting the juvenile’s ability to be rehabilitated and against being branded publicly.
“However, I think that balance of interest is out of kilter today,” he said. “Because the level of violence, the level of delinquency, the aggressive nature, the access to guns, the drug dealing and everything else has shifted, I believe that we need to have a little more heightened concern about our residents at large in dealing with this particular sector of the community.”
SB716, sponsored by Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, was approved without objection and now moves to the Senate floor for debate.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
