Bill No.: SF0129                  Drafter:  JHR

LSO No.:  09LSO-0422              Effective Date:  7/1/2009

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0068

Chapter No.:       146

Prime Sponsor:     Senator Sessions

Catch Title:       Juvenile justice amendments.

Subject:  Authorizes a district attorney to establish objective criteria, screening and assessment procedures for determining which court is appropriate for disposition of a juvenile matter.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Under current law, a juvenile may appear before a municipal, circuit, juvenile or district court for similar violations of law.

· This bill:

o Establishes the district attorney as the single point of entry for all minors alleged to have committed a crime;

o Authorizes a district attorney to establish objective criteria, screening and assessment procedures for determining which court is appropriate for disposition of a juvenile matter;

o Requires that all charging documents, reports or citations be forwarded to the district attorney prior to the filing of the charge, report or citation in municipal or city court;

o Prohibits the disclosure of information, reports or records or contents thereof in juvenile matters except to specified persons, including a person designated by the district attorney in determining the appropriate court pursuant to a single point of entry assessment under W.S. 14-6-203.