International Legal Note: Opening juvenile proceedings to the public and the media: An international social work perspective.

Abstract

Across the globe countries differ on the preferred standard for access to juvenile proceedings for the public and media. Should there be a presump­tion that juvenile court proceedings are open? If so, should all juvenile pro­ceedings be open or just some? Should there be a distinction between criminal and civil matters? How do we balance the public's desire for open­ness with a juvenile defendant's right to a fair trial and desire for confidenti­ality? As social workers, should the profession take a stand on this issue?