New Hampshire Revised Statutes 169-B:35 – Juvenile Case and Court Records
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I. All case records, as defined in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 170-G:8-a, relative to delinquency, shall be confidential and access shall be provided pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 170-G:8-a.
II. Court records of proceedings under this chapter, except for those court records under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 169-B:36, II, shall be kept in books and files separate from all other court records. Such records shall be withheld from public inspection but shall be open to inspection by officers of the institution where the minor is committed, juvenile probation and parole officers, a parent, a guardian, a custodian, the minor’s attorney, the relevant county, and others entrusted with the corrective treatment of the minor. Additional access to court records may be granted by court order or upon the written consent of the minor. Once a delinquent reaches 21 years of age, all court records and individual institutional records, including police records, shall be closed and placed in an inactive file.
III. Notwithstanding paragraphs I and II:
(a) Police officers and prosecutors involved in the investigation and prosecution of criminal acts shall be authorized to access police records concerning juvenile delinquency, including the files of persons who at the time of the inquiry are over the age of 18, and to utilize for the purposes of investigation and prosecution of criminal cases police investigative files on acts of juvenile delinquency, including information from police reports, exemplars, and forensic investigations.
(b) Prosecutors involved in the prosecution of criminal acts shall be authorized to access police records concerning juvenile delinquency or records of adjudications of delinquency, including the files of persons who at the time of the inquiry are over the age of 18, if the prosecutor has reason to believe that the individual may be a witness in a criminal case. The prosecutor may disclose the existence of an adjudication for juvenile delinquency only when such disclosure is constitutionally required or after the court having jurisdiction over the criminal prosecution orders its disclosure.
(c) [Repealed.]
(d) Pursuant to RSA 651-B, the department of safety shall disclose registration information to law enforcement agencies for juveniles if the court has found that the juvenile is required to register as a sexual offender or offender against children. In no event shall any juvenile required to register be listed on the list of sexual offenders and offenders against children made available to the public pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651-B:7.
II. Court records of proceedings under this chapter, except for those court records under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 169-B:36, II, shall be kept in books and files separate from all other court records. Such records shall be withheld from public inspection but shall be open to inspection by officers of the institution where the minor is committed, juvenile probation and parole officers, a parent, a guardian, a custodian, the minor’s attorney, the relevant county, and others entrusted with the corrective treatment of the minor. Additional access to court records may be granted by court order or upon the written consent of the minor. Once a delinquent reaches 21 years of age, all court records and individual institutional records, including police records, shall be closed and placed in an inactive file.
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 169-B:35
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
III. Notwithstanding paragraphs I and II:
(a) Police officers and prosecutors involved in the investigation and prosecution of criminal acts shall be authorized to access police records concerning juvenile delinquency, including the files of persons who at the time of the inquiry are over the age of 18, and to utilize for the purposes of investigation and prosecution of criminal cases police investigative files on acts of juvenile delinquency, including information from police reports, exemplars, and forensic investigations.
(b) Prosecutors involved in the prosecution of criminal acts shall be authorized to access police records concerning juvenile delinquency or records of adjudications of delinquency, including the files of persons who at the time of the inquiry are over the age of 18, if the prosecutor has reason to believe that the individual may be a witness in a criminal case. The prosecutor may disclose the existence of an adjudication for juvenile delinquency only when such disclosure is constitutionally required or after the court having jurisdiction over the criminal prosecution orders its disclosure.
(c) [Repealed.]
(d) Pursuant to RSA 651-B, the department of safety shall disclose registration information to law enforcement agencies for juveniles if the court has found that the juvenile is required to register as a sexual offender or offender against children. In no event shall any juvenile required to register be listed on the list of sexual offenders and offenders against children made available to the public pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651-B:7.