NCJ Number
110179
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (1988) Pages: 37-45
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A survey to determine the implementation of California's law on the sealing of juvenile records issues in a recommendation that the sealing procedures be abolished.
Abstract
The 1982 California Juvenile Record Law specifies new procedures for notification to juveniles of the right to have their records sealed and for the destruction of juvenile records. A study to determine how the new law is being implemented obtained background information on involved agencies and information on notification practices, sealing and destruction practices, statistical outcomes of the law, and opinions and suggestions regarding the record sealing procedure. A structured questionnaire was sent to all probation departments, social welfare departments, district attorneys' offices, the county clerk, and the presiding judge of the juvenile courts of all 58 counties. Based on responses received to date, the notification portion of the law is the only component being properly implemented. Only the more serious offenders are apparently taking advantage of the law. None of the agencies have a filing system to facilitate compliance with the law's provisions. Agencies generally perceive the notification and sealing procedures as costly and inefficient. Study data suggest that the sealing procedure should be abolished and that all juvenile records should be automatically destroyed 5 years after case jurisdiction has ended. 3 tables and 4 references.