Bill 18-344: Expanding Access to Juvenile Records Amendment Act of 2010

DC City Council introduces legislation that would radically and detrimentally alter the laws that govern the confidentiality of records of children. Introduced by Councilmember Tommy Wells, B-18-344 would allow information contained in juvenile case records, social records, and law enforcement records pertaining to a child be disclosed to persons who have a professional interest in the protection, welfare, treatment, and rehabilitation of the child. The bill amends the District’s confidentiality laws and would now allow the disclosure of a child’s “involvement with law enforcement” and make these records available to a wide array of “service providers” or persons who simply “know the child in a professional or official capacity.”