NCJ Number
64707
Date Published
1977
Length
140 pages
Annotation
PRACTICES REGARDING JUVENILE RECORDS MAINTAINED BY COUNTIES IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION OF WISCONSIN WERE SURVEYED WITH REFERENCE TO ACCESS AND THE IMPACT OF JUVENILE RECORDS ON EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON STATUTORY PROVISIONS OF WISCONSIN LAW WAS OBTAINED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS PAID TO PRESENTENCES, THE USE OF JUVENILE RECORDS TO IMPEACH CREDIBILITY, AGENCY RECORDS, ACCESS, AND EXPUNGEMENT. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH COURT AND COURT-RELATED PERSONNEL TO EVALUATE (1) ACCESS TO JUVENILE RECORDS BY FILE SUBJECT, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND VICTIM; (2) RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO MILITARY PERSONNEL AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND FOR PRESENTENCE PREPARATION; (3) EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION WITH SCHOOLS; (4< FINGERPRINTING; AND (5) DESTRUCTION. RESPONSES HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR COHERENT LAWS AND CONSISTENCY OF APPLICATION. SUPPLEMENTARY INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY PERSONNEL, PRIVATE EMPLOYERS, AND MILITARY RECRUITERS ELICITED RESPONSES WHICH REVEALED EMPLOYMENT AND RECRUITMENT POLICIES THAT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE OCCUPATIONAL FUTURE OF A PERSON WITH A JUVENILE RECORD. POLICIES AND PRACTICES APPLIED TO JUVENILE RECORDS NEED TO BE STANDARDIZED, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBJECT ACCESS MUST BE RECOGNIZED SO THAT RECORD ACCURACY AND DISSEMINATION CAN BE CHECKED. FINALLY, PENALTIES IS CASES OF UNAUTHORIZED RECORD USE MUST BE CLEARLY STATED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND CASE LAW CITATIONS ARE INCLUDED. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF JUVENILE RECORDS IN WISCONSIN AND THE RESPONSES OF EMPLOYERS IS EXPANDED. (DEP)