Blog Posts
Nickles Looking into Opening Juvenile Records
dcogcadmin | May 7, 2010
Following the revelations this week that the teen suspects in the murder of principal Brian Betts have lengthy rap sheets and were in and out of supervision by the District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, Attorney General Peter Nickles has vowed to look into the policies requiring confidentiality of juvenile records. As Harry Jaffe reports in his column for the Examiner, Nickles says, "These records should be made available to the public . . . I would trust the media and the people to interpret the information. We’re looking at how to open up the records."
Following the revelations this week that the teen suspects in the murder of principal Brian Betts have lengthy rap sheets and were in and out of supervision by the District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, Attorney General Peter Nickles has vowed to look into the policies requiring confidentiality of juvenile records. As Harry Jaffe reports in his column for the Examiner, Nickles says, "These records should be made available to the public . . . I would trust the media and the people to interpret the information. We’re looking at how to open up the records."
Jaffe goes on to note that in many states, juvenile criminal records and their court proceedings, as well as foster care and other social service proceedings, are open to the public. Nickles is now eager to "let some sunlight into the system."
The Washington Post editorial board also addresses the recent problems that have arisen with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, noting that a re-assessment of the strict confidentality rules should be at the top of the list.
