H-4579

AN ACT Relating to the confidentiality of victim-identifying information in cases of child victims of sexual abuse; amending RCW 7.69A.020, 7.69A.030, 13.40.140, and 13.50.050; adding a new section to chapter 7.69A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 10.97 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 10.52 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that the cooperation of child victims of sexual assault and their families is integral to the successful prosecution of sexual assaults against children. The legislature finds that release of information identifying child victims of sexual assault may subject the child to unwanted contacts by the media, public scrutiny and embarrassment, and places the child victim and the victim's family at risk when the assailant is not in custody. Release of information to the press and the public harms the child victim and has a chilling effect on the willingness of child victims and their families to report sexual abuse and to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution of the crime. The legislature further finds that public dissemination of the child victim's name and other identifying information is not essential to accurate and necessary release of information to the public concerning the operation of the criminal justice system. Therefore, the legislature intends to assure child victims of sexual assault and their families that the identities and locations of child victims will remain confidential.

Sec. 2. RCW 7.69A.020 and 1985 c 394 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Crime" means an act punishable as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor under the laws of this state or equivalent federal or local law.

(2) "Child" means any living child under the age of eighteen years.

(3) "Victim" means a living person against whom a crime has been committed.

(4) "Witness" means a person who has been or is expected to be summoned to testify for the prosecution in a criminal action, or who by reason of having relevant information is subject to call or likely to be called as a witness for the prosecution, whether or not an action or proceeding has been commenced.

(5) "Family member" means child, parent, or legal guardian.

(6) "Advocate" means any person, including a family member not accused of a crime, who provides support to a child victim or child witness during any legal proceeding.

(7) "Court proceedings" means any court proceeding conducted during the course of the prosecution of a crime committed against a child victim, including pretrial hearings, trial, sentencing, or appellate proceedings.

(8) "Identifying information" means the child's name, address, location, and photograph, and in cases in which the child is a relative or stepchild of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 7.69A RCW to read as follows:

A child victim of sexual assault has a right to not have identifying information disclosed to the public. Accordingly, unless the child victim or the child victim's legal guardian consents to dissemination of identifying information:

(1) Except as necessary to conduct the investigation or preparation of the case, no law enforcement agency, prosecutor's office, or defense attorney may disclose any identifying information of a child victim of sexual assault to anyone other than another law enforcement agency, prosecutor, judge, defense attorney, or governmental agency that provides services to the child victim or to a family member of the child victim.

(2) The court shall prohibit dissemination to the public of any identifying information revealed during court proceedings involving the sexual assault of a child victim. The court shall condition a person's or press attendance at court proceedings on an agreement not to disseminate to the public or the press identifying information obtained at court proceedings. The court shall prohibit the press or any person who refuses to comply with the condition from attending any court proceeding in which information identifying the child victim may be revealed. If the press or another person violates the court-ordered condition, the court shall make all orders necessary to prevent further dissemination of identifying information obtained at the court proceeding. The court may not prohibit the press from disseminating identifying information obtained from a source other than the court proceedings.

(3) Portions of court records, transcripts, or recordings of court proceedings that contain identifying information are confidential and not open to public inspection. The court shall order that those records shall be sealed unless the identifying information is deleted.

(4) If a member of the press releases to the public identifying information that the press member obtained solely through attendance at a court proceeding to which the press member had conditional access, the press member shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars. In addition, the child victim may pursue any other civil remedy available under existing law.

Sec. 4. RCW 7.69A.030 and 1985 c 394 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

In addition to the rights of victims and witnesses provided for in RCW 7.69.030, there shall be every reasonable effort made by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges to assure that child victims and witnesses are afforded the rights enumerated in this section. Except as provided in section 3 of this act regarding child victims of sexual assault, the enumeration of rights shall not be construed to create substantive rights and duties, and the application of an enumerated right in an individual case is subject to the discretion of the law enforcement agency, prosecutor, or judge. Child victims and witnesses have the following rights:

(1) To have explained in language easily understood by the child, all legal proceedings and/or police investigations in which the child may be involved.

(2) To be provided, whenever possible, a secure waiting area during court proceedings and to have an advocate or support person remain with the child prior to and during any court proceedings.

(3) To not have the names, addresses, nor photographs of the living child victim or witness disclosed by any law enforcement agency, prosecutor's office, or state agency without the permission of the child victim, child witness, parents, or legal guardians to anyone except another law enforcement agency, prosecutor, defense counsel, or private or governmental agency that provides services to the child victim or witness.

(4) To allow an advocate to make recommendations to the prosecuting attorney about the ability of the child to cooperate with prosecution and the potential effect of the proceedings on the child.

(5) To allow an advocate to provide information to the court concerning the child's ability to understand the nature of the proceedings.

(6) To be provided information or appropriate referrals to social service agencies to assist the child and/or the child's family with the emotional impact of the crime, the subsequent investigation, and judicial proceedings in which the child is involved.

(7) To allow an advocate to be present in court while the child testifies in order to provide emotional support to the child.

(8) To provide information to the court as to the need for the presence of other supportive persons at the court proceedings while the child testifies in order to promote the child's feelings of security and safety.

(9) To allow law enforcement agencies the opportunity to enlist the assistance of other professional personnel such as child protection services, victim advocates or prosecutorial staff trained in the interviewing of the child victim.

Sec. 5. RCW 13.40.140 and 1981 c 299 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A juvenile shall be advised of his or her rights when appearing before the court.

(2) A juvenile and his or her parent, guardian, or custodian shall be advised by the court or its representative that the juvenile has a right to be represented by counsel at all critical stages of the proceedings. Unless waived, counsel shall be provided to a juvenile who is financially unable to obtain counsel without causing substantial hardship to himself or herself or the juvenile's family, in any proceeding where the juvenile may be subject to transfer for criminal prosecution, or in any proceeding where the juvenile may be in danger of confinement. The ability to pay part of the cost of counsel does not preclude assignment. In no case may a juvenile be deprived of counsel because of a parent, guardian, or custodian refusing to pay therefor. The juvenile shall be fully advised of his or her right to an attorney and of the relevant services an attorney can provide.

(3) The right to counsel includes the right to the appointment of experts necessary, and the experts shall be required pursuant to the procedures and requirements established by the supreme court.

(4) Upon application of a party, the clerk of the court shall issue, and the court on its own motion may issue, subpoenas requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of records, documents, or other tangible objects at any hearing, or such subpoenas may be issued by an attorney of record.

(5) All proceedings shall be transcribed verbatim by means which will provide an accurate record.

(6) The general public and press shall be permitted to attend any hearing unless the court, for good cause, orders a particular hearing to be closed. The presumption shall be that all such hearings will be open. As provided in section 3 of this act, a child victim of sexual assault is entitled to have information identifying the child victim remain confidential unless the child victim or the child victim's legal guardian consents to the disclosure. The court shall ensure that victim-identifying information is not disseminated as provided in section 3 (2) and (3) of this act. Dissemination of information identifying a child victim of sexual assault in violation of section 3 of this act constitutes good cause for closing the hearing.

(7) In all adjudicatory proceedings before the court, all parties shall have the right to adequate notice, discovery as provided in criminal cases, opportunity to be heard, confrontation of witnesses except in such cases as this chapter expressly permits the use of hearsay testimony, findings based solely upon the evidence adduced at the hearing, and an unbiased fact-finder.

(8) A juvenile shall be accorded the same privilege against self-incrimination as an adult. An extrajudicial statement which would be constitutionally inadmissible in a criminal proceeding may not be received in evidence at an adjudicatory hearing over objection. Evidence illegally seized or obtained may not be received in evidence over objection at an adjudicatory hearing to prove the allegations against the juvenile if the evidence would be inadmissible in an adult criminal proceeding. An extrajudicial admission or confession made by the juvenile out of court is insufficient to support a finding that the juvenile committed the acts alleged in the information unless evidence of a corpus delicti is first independently established in the same manner as required in an adult criminal proceeding.

(9) Waiver of any right which a juvenile has under this chapter must be an express waiver intelligently made by the juvenile after the juvenile has been fully informed of the right being waived.

(10) Whenever this chapter refers to waiver or objection by a juvenile, the word juvenile shall be construed to refer to a juvenile who is at least twelve years of age. If a juvenile is under twelve years of age, the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian shall give any waiver or offer any objection contemplated by this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

Information revealing the identity of child victims of sexual assault who are under age eighteen is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. Identifying information means the child victim's name, address, location, photograph, and in cases in which the child victim is a relative or stepchild of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator.

Sec. 7. RCW 13.50.050 and 1990 c 3 s 125 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) This section governs records relating to the commission of juvenile offenses, including records relating to diversions.

(2) The official juvenile court file of any alleged or proven juvenile offender shall be open to public inspection, unless sealed pursuant to subsection (11) of this section.

(3) All records other than the official juvenile court file are confidential and may be released only as provided in this section, RCW 13.50.010, 13.40.215, and 4.24.550.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section and RCW 13.50.010, records retained or produced by any juvenile justice or care agency may be released to other participants in the juvenile justice or care system only when an investigation or case involving the juvenile in question is being pursued by the other participant or when that other participant is assigned the responsibility for supervising the juvenile.

(5) Except as provided in RCW 4.24.550, information not in an official juvenile court file concerning a juvenile or a juvenile's family may be released to the public only when that information could not reasonably be expected to identify the juvenile or the juvenile's family.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the release, to the juvenile or his or her attorney, of law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys' records pertaining to investigation, diversion, and prosecution of juvenile offenses shall be governed by the rules of discovery and other rules of law applicable in adult criminal investigations and prosecutions.

(7) The juvenile court and the prosecutor may set up and maintain a central record-keeping system which may receive information on all alleged juvenile offenders against whom a complaint has been filed pursuant to RCW 13.40.070 whether or not their cases are currently pending before the court. The central record-keeping system may be computerized. If a complaint has been referred to a diversion unit, the diversion unit shall promptly report to the juvenile court or the prosecuting attorney when the juvenile has agreed to diversion. An offense shall not be reported as criminal history in any central record-keeping system without notification by the diversion unit of the date on which the offender agreed to diversion.

(8) Upon request of the victim of a crime or the victim's immediate family, the identity of an alleged or proven juvenile offender alleged or found to have committed a crime against the victim and the identity of the alleged or proven juvenile offender's parent, guardian, or custodian and the circumstance of the alleged or proven crime shall be released to the victim of the crime or the victim's immediate family.

(9) Subject to the rules of discovery applicable in adult criminal prosecutions, the juvenile offense records of an adult criminal defendant or witness in an adult criminal proceeding shall be released upon request to prosecution and defense counsel after a charge has actually been filed. The juvenile offense records of any adult convicted of a crime and placed under the supervision of the adult corrections system shall be released upon request to the adult corrections system.

(10) In any case in which an information has been filed pursuant to RCW 13.40.100 or a complaint has been filed with the prosecutor and referred for diversion pursuant to RCW 13.40.070, the person the subject of the information or complaint may file a motion with the court to have the court vacate its order and findings, if any, and, subject to subsection (24) of this section, order the sealing of the official juvenile court file, the social file, and records of the court and of any other agency in the case.

(11) The court shall grant the motion to seal records made pursuant to subsection (10) of this section if it finds that:

(a) Two years have elapsed from the later of: (i) Final discharge of the person from the supervision of any agency charged with supervising juvenile offenders; or (ii) from the entry of a court order relating to the commission of a juvenile offense or a criminal offense;

(b) No proceeding is pending against the moving party seeking the conviction of a juvenile offense or a criminal offense; and

(12) The person making a motion pursuant to subsection (10) of this section shall give reasonable notice of the motion to the prosecution and to any person or agency whose files are sought to be sealed.

(13) If the court grants the motion to seal made pursuant to subsection (10) of this section, it shall, subject to subsection (24) of this section, order sealed the official juvenile court file, the social file, and other records relating to the case as are named in the order. Thereafter, the proceedings in the case shall be treated as if they never occurred, and the subject of the records may reply accordingly to any inquiry about the events, records of which are sealed. Any agency shall reply to any inquiry concerning confidential or sealed records that records are confidential, and no information can be given about the existence or nonexistence of records concerning an individual.

(14) Inspection of the files and records included in the order to seal may thereafter be permitted only by order of the court upon motion made by the person who is the subject of the information or complaint, except as otherwise provided in RCW 13.50.010(8) and subsection (24) of this section.

(15) Any adjudication of a juvenile offense or a crime subsequent to sealing has the effect of nullifying the sealing order. Any conviction for any adult felony subsequent to the sealing has the effect of nullifying the sealing order for the purposes of chapter 9.94A RCW for any juvenile adjudication of guilt for a class A offense or a sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.

(16) In any case in which an information has been filed pursuant to RCW 13.40.100 or a complaint has been filed with the prosecutor and referred for diversion pursuant to RCW 13.40.070, the person who is the subject of the information or complaint may file a motion with the court to have the court vacate its order and findings, if any, and, subject to subsection (24) of this section, order the destruction of the official juvenile court file, the social file, and records of the court and of any other agency in the case.

(17) The court may grant the motion to destroy records made pursuant to subsection (16) of this section if it finds:

(a) The person making the motion is at least twenty-three years of age;

(b) The person has not subsequently been convicted of a felony;

(d) The person has never been found guilty of a serious offense.

(18) A person eighteen years of age or older whose criminal history consists of only one referral for diversion may request that the court order the records in that case destroyed. The request shall be granted, subject to subsection (24) of this section, if the court finds that two years have elapsed since completion of the diversion agreement.

(19) If the court grants the motion to destroy records made pursuant to subsection (16) or (18) of this section, it shall, subject to subsection (24) of this section, order the official juvenile court file, the social file, and any other records named in the order to be destroyed.

(20) The person making the motion pursuant to subsection (16) or (18) of this section shall give reasonable notice of the motion to the prosecuting attorney and to any agency whose records are sought to be destroyed.

(21) Any juvenile to whom the provisions of this section may apply shall be given written notice of his or her rights under this section at the time of his or her disposition hearing or during the diversion process.

(22) Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a crime victim or a member of the victim's family from divulging the identity of the alleged or proven juvenile offender or his or her family when necessary in a civil proceeding.

(23) Any juvenile justice or care agency may, subject to the limitations in subsection (24) of this section and subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, develop procedures for the routine destruction of records relating to juvenile offenses and diversions.

(a) Records may be routinely destroyed only when the person the subject of the information or complaint has attained twenty-three years of age or older, or is eighteen years of age or older and his or her criminal history consists entirely of one diversion agreement and two years have passed since completion of the agreement.

(b) The court may not routinely destroy the official juvenile court file or recordings or transcripts of any proceedings.

(24) No identifying information held by the Washington state patrol in accordance with chapter 43.43 RCW is subject to destruction or sealing under this section. For the purposes of this subsection, identifying information includes photographs, fingerprints, palmprints, soleprints, toeprints and any other data that identifies a person by physical characteristics, name, birthdate or address, but does not include information regarding criminal activity, arrest, charging, diversion, conviction or other information about a person's treatment by the criminal justice system or about the person's behavior.

(25) Information identifying child victims under age eighteen who are victims of sexual assaults by juvenile offenders is confidential and not subject to release to the press or public without the permission of the child victim or the child's legal guardian. Identifying information includes the child victim's name, addresses, location, photographs, and in cases in which the child victim is a relative of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator. Information identifying a child victim of sexual assault may be released to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, or private or governmental agencies that provide services to the child victim of sexual assault.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 10.97 RCW to read as follows:

Information identifying child victims under age eighteen who are victims of sexual assaults is confidential and not subject to release to the press or public without the permission of the child victim or the child's legal guardian. Identifying information includes the child victim's name, addresses, location, photographs, and in cases in which the child victim is a relative or stepchild of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator. Information identifying the child victim of sexual assault may be released to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, or private or governmental agencies that provide services to the child victim of sexual assault. Prior to release of any criminal history record information, the releasing agency shall delete any information identifying a child victim of sexual assault from the information except as provided in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 10.52 RCW to read as follows:

Child victims of sexual assault who are under the age of eighteen, have a right not to have disclosed to the public or press at any court proceeding involved in the prosecution of the sexual assault, the child victim's name, address, location, photographs, and in cases in which the child victim is a relative or stepchild of the alleged perpetrator, identification of the relationship between the child and the alleged perpetrator. The court shall ensure that information identifying the child victim is not disclosed to the press or the public and that in the event of any improper disclosure the court shall make all necessary orders to restrict further dissemination of identifying information improperly obtained. Court proceedings include but are not limited to pretrial hearings, trial, sentencing, and appellate proceedings. The court shall also order that any portion of any court records, transcripts, or recordings of court proceedings that contain information identifying the child victim shall be sealed and not open to public inspection unless those identifying portions are deleted from the documents or tapes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.