NCJ Number
145131
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 27-42
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The thesis is that the presence of reports during juvenile court proceedings is vital to the checking function of the media and should be encouraged by judges as a rule, not an exception that is, unless it would reasonably be harmful to the child's interests.
Abstract
In 1961 in California, a special study commission recommended that juvenile court hearings should be kept confidential but not secret. This open attitude has gained popularity in recent times, despite public dismay over media coverage and despite the U.S. Supreme Court's prevailing view that the media should enjoy no greater access than does the public. The author recommends that the media should go to State legislatures and operate through statutes that exempt the media from bans on public access. Furthermore, he argues that the media can help its own cause by maximizing the accuracy of its reporting. He cites a case in Ohio in which the possibility that media and public awareness could serve the child's interests was not considered. The author also cites a case in Oregon in which the judge allowed media access in order to expose the grave and stark reality of children in need in this State. 116 endnotes