MS HB593

Administrative Office of Courts shall recommend to youth courts a uniform format to maintain court records, which may be kept on computer consistent with circuit court storage methods.

Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) may access youth court records without court order in electronic format to monitor effectiveness of programs for adjudicated youth and track how many become adult offenders.

PEER Committee shall not disclose identities of adjudicated youth and may only use disclosed information to evaluate program effectiveness and measure recidivism rates into the adult criminal justice system.

Youth courts must provide youth court records to PEER Committee in sortable electronic format where possible, with assistance from Administrative Office of Courts if needed.