The bill amends West Virginia Code § 61-8B-19 to enhance the confidentiality of court files and law enforcement records concerning victims of specific crimes. It establishes that the name and address of victims in criminal complaints related to certain sexual offenses will be kept confidential and mandates that any disclosed criminal complaints must be redacted to remove this identifying information. Additionally, the bill allows for a waiver of confidentiality by the victim and permits disclosure to governmental entities, provided they adhere to the same confidentiality standards.

The legislation also repeals previous provisions regarding court orders and subpoenas related to accessing confidential records. It introduces a requirement that decisions from the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, issued after July 1, 2026, must not include the names or addresses of victims in cases involving the specified offenses. Furthermore, it requests the Supreme Court of Appeals to create necessary rules to implement these changes by the same effective date.

Statutes affected:
Committee Substitute: 61-8B-19