MN HF876

Amends Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 260B.163, subdivision 1, regarding juvenile court hearings in delinquency and extended jurisdiction juvenile cases.

Changes language from "delinquency" to "certification" hearings when establishing requirements for courts to open hearings to the public for felony-level offenses committed by children at least 16 years old.

Adds requirement that courts open delinquency hearings to the public for felony-level offenses by children at least 16 years old only if the court determines that the benefit to public safety from an open hearing outweighs potential consequences to the child from the resulting public record, based on the violent or serious nature of the alleged offense.

Maintains existing provisions allowing courts to exclude the public from portions of certification hearings discussing psychological material or evidence not accessible to the public in adult proceedings.

Preserves victim rights to attend delinquency proceedings and court administrator notification requirements for victims regarding certification and adjudicatory hearings and case disposition.