New Jersey § 2a:4a-60

§ 2a:4a-60.

Disclosure of juvenile information; penalties for disclosure. a. Social, medical, psychological, legal and other records of the court and probation

division, and records of law enforcement agencies, pertaining to juveniles charged

as a delinquent or found to be part of a juvenile-family crisis, shall be strictly

safeguarded from public inspection. Such records shall be made available only to: (1) Any court or probation division; (2) The Attorney General or county prosecutor; (3) The parents or guardian and to the attorney of the juvenile; (4) The Department of Human Services or Department of Children and Families, if providing

care or custody of the juvenile; (5) Any institution or facility to which the juvenile is currently committed or in

which the juvenile is placed; (6) Any person or agency interested in a case or in the work of the agency keeping

the records, by order of the court for good cause shown, except that information concerning

adjudications of delinquency, records of custodial confinement, payments owed on assessments

imposed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1979, c. 396 ( C.2C:43-3.1 ) or restitution ordered following conviction of a crime or adjudication of delinquency,

and the juvenile's financial resources, shall be made available upon request to the

Victims of Crime Compensation Agency established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2007, c. 95 ( C.52:4B-3.2 ), which shall keep such information and records confidential; (7) The Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c. 284 ( C.52:17B-170 ); (8) Law enforcement agencies for the purpose of reviewing applications for a permit

to purchase a handgun or firearms purchaser identification card; (9) Any potential party in a subsequent civil action for damages related to an act

of delinquency committed by a juvenile, including the victim or a member of the victim's

immediate family, regardless of whether the action has been filed against the juvenile;

provided, however, that records available under this paragraph shall be limited to

official court documents, such as complaints, pleadings and orders, and that such

records may be disclosed by the recipient only in connection with asserting legal

claims or obtaining indemnification on behalf of the victim or the victim's family

and otherwise shall be safeguarded from disclosure to other members of the public. Any potential party in a civil action related to the juvenile offense may file a

motion with the civil trial judge seeking to have the juvenile's social, medical or

psychological records admitted into evidence in a civil proceeding for damages; (10) Any potential party in a subsequent civil action for damages related to an act

of delinquency committed by a juvenile, including the victim or a member of the victim's

immediate family, regardless of whether the action has been filed against the juvenile;

provided, however, that records available under this paragraph shall be limited to

police or investigation reports concerning acts of delinquency, which shall be disclosed

by a law enforcement agency only with the approval of the County Prosecutor's Office

or the Division of Criminal Justice. Prior to disclosure, all personal information regarding all individuals, other than

the requesting party and the arresting or investigating officer, shall be redacted. Such records may be disclosed by the recipient only in connection with asserting

legal claims or obtaining indemnification on behalf of the victim or the victim's

family, and otherwise shall be safeguarded from disclosure to other members of the

public; (11) The Office of the Child Advocate established pursuant to P.L.2005, c. 155 ( C.52:27EE-1 et al.). Disclosure of juvenile information received by the child advocate pursuant to this

paragraph shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 76 of P.L.2005, c. 155 ( C.52:27EE-76 ); (12) Law enforcement agencies with respect to information available on the juvenile

central registry maintained by the courts pursuant to subsection g. of this section,

including, but not limited to: records of official court documents, such as complaints,

pleadings and orders for the purpose of obtaining juvenile arrest information; juvenile

disposition information; juvenile pretrial information; and information concerning

the probation status of a juvenile ; and (13) A Court Appointed Special Advocate as defined in section 1 of P.L.2009, c. 217 ( C.2A:4A-92 ) . b. Records of law enforcement agencies may be disclosed for law enforcement purposes,

or for the purpose of reviewing applications for a permit to purchase a handgun or

a firearms purchaser identification card to any law enforcement agency of this State,

another state or the United States, and the identity of a juvenile under warrant for

arrest for commission of an act that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult

may be disclosed to the public when necessary to execution of the warrant. c. At the time of charge, adjudication or disposition, information as to the identity

of a juvenile charged with an offense, the offense charged, the adjudication and disposition

shall, upon request, be disclosed to: (1) The victim or a member of the victim's immediate family; (2) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2005, c. 165 ). (3) On a confidential basis, the principal of the school where the juvenile is enrolled

for use by the principal and such members of the staff and faculty of the school as

the principal deems appropriate for maintaining order, safety or discipline in the

school or to planning programs relevant to the juvenile's educational and social development,

provided that no record of such information shall be maintained except as authorized

by regulation of the Department of Education; or (4) A party in a subsequent legal proceeding involving the juvenile, upon approval

by the court. d. A law enforcement or prosecuting agency shall, at the time of a charge, adjudication

or disposition, send written notice to the principal of the school where the juvenile

is enrolled of the identity of the juvenile charged, the offense charged, the adjudication

and the disposition if: (1) The offense occurred on school property or a school bus, occurred at a school-sponsored

function or was committed against an employee or official of the school; or (2) The juvenile was taken into custody as a result of information or evidence provided

by school officials; or (3) The offense, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime, and the offense: (a) resulted in death or serious bodily injury or involved an attempt or conspiracy

to cause death or serious bodily injury; or (b) involved the unlawful use or possession of a firearm or other weapon; or (c) involved the unlawful manufacture, distribution or possession with intent to distribute

a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog; or (d) was committed by a juvenile who acted with a purpose to intimidate an individual

or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity;

or (e) would be a crime of the first, second, or third degree. Information provided to the principal pursuant to this subsection shall be maintained

by the school and shall be treated as confidential but may be made available to such

members of the staff and faculty of the school as the principal deems appropriate

for maintaining order, safety or discipline in the school or for planning programs

relevant to a juvenile's educational and social development. e. Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement or prosecuting agency from

providing the principal of a school with information identifying one or more juveniles

who are under investigation or have been taken into custody for commission of any

act that would constitute an offense if committed by an adult when the law enforcement

or prosecuting agency determines that the information may be useful to the principal

in maintaining order, safety or discipline in the school or in planning programs relevant

to the juvenile's educational and social development. Information provided to the principal pursuant to this subsection shall be treated

as confidential but may be made available to such members of the staff and faculty

of the school as the principal deems appropriate for maintaining order, safety or

discipline in the school or for planning programs relevant to the juvenile's educational

and social development. No information provided pursuant to this section shall be maintained. f. Information as to the identity of a juvenile adjudicated delinquent, the offense,

the adjudication and the disposition shall be disclosed to the public where the offense

for which the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent if committed by an adult, would

constitute a crime of the first, second or third degree, or aggravated assault, destruction

or damage to property to an extent of more than $500.00, unless upon application at

the time of disposition the juvenile demonstrates a substantial likelihood that specific

and extraordinary harm would result from such disclosure in the specific case. Where the court finds that disclosure would be harmful to the juvenile, the reasons

therefor shall be stated on the record. g. (1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the establishment and maintaining of

a central registry of the records of law enforcement agencies relating to juveniles

for the purpose of exchange between State and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors

of this State, another state, or the United States. These records of law enforcement agencies shall be available on a 24-hour basis. (2) Certain information and records relating to juveniles in the central registry

maintained by the courts, as prescribed in paragraph (12) of subsection a. of this

section, shall be available to State and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors

on a 24-hour basis. h. Whoever, except as provided by law, knowingly discloses, publishes, receives, or

makes use of or knowingly permits the unauthorized use of information concerning a

particular juvenile derived from records listed in subsection a. or acquired in the

course of court proceedings, probation, or police duties, shall, upon conviction thereof,

be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. i. Juvenile delinquency proceedings. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the court may, upon application

by the juvenile or his parent or guardian, the prosecutor or any other interested

party, including the victim or complainant or members of the news media, permit public

attendance during any court proceeding at a delinquency case, where it determines

that a substantial likelihood that specific harm to the juvenile would not result. The court shall have the authority to limit and control attendance in any manner

and to the extent it deems appropriate; (2) The court or, in cases where the county prosecutor has entered an appearance,

the county prosecutor shall notify the victim or a member of the victim's immediate

family of any court proceeding involving the juvenile and the court shall permit the

attendance of the victim or family member at the proceeding except when, prior to

completing testimony as a witness, the victim or family member is properly sequestered

in accordance with the law or the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey

or when the juvenile or the juvenile's family member shows, by clear and convincing

evidence, that such attendance would result in a substantial likelihood that specific

harm to the juvenile would result from the attendance of the victim or a family member

at a proceeding or any portion of a proceeding and that such harm substantially outweighs

the interest of the victim or family member to attend that portion of the proceeding; (3) The court shall permit a victim, or a family member of a victim to make a statement

prior to ordering a disposition in any delinquency proceeding involving an offense

that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult. j. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall adopt,

pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 ( C.52:14B-1 et seq. ), rules and regulations concerning the creation, maintenance and disclosure of pupil

records including information acquired pursuant to this section.