BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- The criminal records of some juveniles could become public record under legislation passed by a Senate committee.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Norman said parents and school officials are often at a disadvantage, not knowing the history of juvenile delinquents in their neighborhoods and schools.
Norman told a Senate committee there is little that he, as the chief law enforcement officer in Jefferson Parish, is able to talk about publicly.
The Senate bill would open to the public any records or reports related to a child who is at least 14 years of age at the time the child committed a crime of violence, a second or subsequent felony offense, or distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute a dangerous substance.
