The bill amends Section 32A-2-26 of the New Mexico Statutes to allow parties to refer to the existence of a sealed juvenile record during specific legal proceedings, including hearings related to pretrial detention, conditions of release, or sentencing. The new legal language specifies that, with prior notice to the court, a party may mention the existence of a juvenile record in written pleadings for these purposes. However, while parties can refer to the existence of the record in other written pleadings, they are prohibited from disclosing the contents of the juvenile record unless permitted by law.

Additionally, the bill maintains the existing provisions regarding the sealing of juvenile records, including the conditions under which records can be sealed and the process for notifying relevant parties. The amendments aim to balance the confidentiality of juvenile records with the need for relevant information to be considered in serious legal matters, thereby enhancing the judicial process while still protecting the privacy of juvenile offenders.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-2-26