Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §3307, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 624, Pt. B, §17, is further amended to read:

1-A. Release of identity. A law enforcement officer, officer of the court or juvenile community corrections officer may not release the identity of any juvenile who is younger than 16 years of age until a petition is filed charging the juvenile with a juvenile crime described in subsection 2. This section does not preclude the release of the identity of a juvenile to a complainant or victim if a juvenile community corrections officer decides not to file a petition in accordance with section 3301, subsection 5, paragraph A or B or if the juvenile community corrections officer requests the prosecuting attorney to file a petition in accordance with section 3301, subsection 5, paragraph C.

SUMMARY

Under current law, the identity of juveniles charged with most crimes may not be released. This bill allows the release of the identity of 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds charged with juvenile crimes.