Juvenile case files: sexually violent predator proceedings.

Existing law provides for sentencing enhancements on the basis of prior felony convictions, which are defined to include certain offenses adjudicated before the juvenile court. However, existing law generally provides for the confidentiality of juvenile records, reports, and related information. Those records may be sealed and eventually destroyed, unless the subject of the record was found to be a ward of the court because of the commission of specified felony offenses committed when he or she was 14 years of age or older. Certain persons, including law enforcement personnel who are actively participating in criminal or juvenile proceedings involving a minor, may inspect those records and reports concerning that minor, but those persons may not disseminate the records or reports, or related information, without the prior approval of the presiding judge of the juvenile court, except as specified. Existing sexually violent predator laws set forth procedures under which a person under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may be referred for evaluation at least 6 months prior to the person's scheduled date for release from prison if the director determines that the person may be a sexually violent predator, as defined. The sexually violent predator laws provide, under certain circumstances, that this person may be required to stand trial, be found beyond a reasonable doubt to be a sexually violent predator, and be committed for an indeterminate term to the custody of the State Department of Mental Health for appropriate treatment and confinement in a secure facility until his or her diagnosed mental disorder has so changed that he or she is not likely to engage in sexually violent criminal behavior if discharged, as specified. This bill would authorize, in any investigation, action, or proceeding based on the sexually violent predator laws, a court, upon a showing of good cause, to permit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Department of Mental Health, and the attorney petitioning for commitment, or their agents, to obtain and use records that have been sealed, that are relevant to the civil commitment proceeding as determined by the court, in camera, and pertaining to sustained petitions for specified sexually violent offenses that were committed when the person had attained 14 years of age or older. The bill also would authorize, in any civil commitment proceeding based on the sexually violent predator laws, the court, counsel for the parties, any jury, and any other person authorized by the court, to obtain and use the records. The bill would provide that the records would remain confidential, as specified.