Juveniles: sealing of records.

(1) Existing law subjects a person under 18 years of age who commits a crime to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge that person to be a ward of the court, except as specified. Under existing law, juvenile court proceedings to declare a minor a ward of the court are commenced by the filing of a petition by the probation officer, the district attorney after consultation with the probation officer, or the prosecuting attorney, as specified. Existing law requires the juvenile court to order the petition of a minor who is subject to the jurisdiction of the court dismissed if the minor satisfactorily completes a term of probation or an informal program of supervision, as specified, and requires the sealing of records pertaining to that dismissed petition, as specified. Existing law specifies circumstances under which a record that has been ordered sealed pursuant to these provisions may be accessed, inspected, or utilized. This bill would allow a child welfare agency of a county responsible for the supervision and placement of a minor or nonminor dependent to access a record that has been ordered sealed for the limited purpose of determining an appropriate placement or service. (2) Existing law governs the circumstances under which a juvenile court case file may be disseminated and to whom. Existing law governs the dissemination of juvenile police records in the County of Los Angeles. Existing law governs the dissemination of information gathered by a law enforcement agency relating to the taking of a minor into custody. This bill would clarify that a case file that has been covered by, or included in, an order of a court sealing a record under specified provisions of law may only be inspected pursuant to those provisions of law. The bill would make conforming changes regarding the dissemination of juvenile police records in the County of Los Angeles and information gathered by a law enforcement agency relating to the taking of a minor into custody to preclude the dissemination of sealed records under those provisions that have been sealed pursuant to a specified provision of law. (3) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 827 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 2872 that would become operative if this bill and AB 2872 are chaptered and this bill is chaptered last.