Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 63 - Juvenile Matters
Section 6308 - Law enforcement records

(a) General rule.--Law enforcement records and files concerning a child shall be kept separate from the records and files of arrests of adults. Unless a charge of delinquency is transferred for criminal prosecution under section 6355 (relating to transfer to criminal proceedings), the interest of national security requires, or the court otherwise orders in the interest of the child, the records and files shall not be open to public inspection or their contents disclosed to the public except as provided in subsection (b); but inspection of the records and files is permitted by:
(1) The court having the child before it in any proceeding.
(2) Counsel for a party to the proceeding.
(3) The officers of institutions or agencies to whom the child is committed.
(4) Law enforcement officers of other jurisdictions when necessary for the discharge of their official duties.
(5) A court in which the child is convicted of a criminal offense for the purpose of a presentence report or other dispositional proceeding, or by officials of penal institutions and other penal facilities to which he is committed, or by a parole board in considering his parole or discharge or in exercising supervision over him.
(6) The Department of Public Welfare for use in determining whether an individual named as the perpetrator of an indicated report of child abuse should be expunged from the Statewide database.
(b) Public availability.--
(1) (Deleted by amendment).
(1.1) The contents of law enforcement records and files concerning a child shall not be disclosed to the public unless any of the following apply:
(i) The child has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of an act or acts committed when the child was 14 years of age or older and the conduct would have constituted one or more of the following offenses if committed by an adult:
(A) Murder.
(B) Voluntary manslaughter.
(C) Aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) or (2) (relating to aggravated assault).
(D) Sexual Assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault).
(E) Aggravated indecent assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault).
(F) Arson as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)(1) (relating to arson and related offenses).
(G) Burglary as a felony in the first degree as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502(c)(1) (relating to burglary).
(H) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
(I) Kidnapping.
(J) Rape.
(K) Robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery).
(L) Robbery of motor vehicle.
(M) Violation of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to firearms and other dangerous articles).
(N) Attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in this subparagraph.
(ii) A petition alleging delinquency has been filed alleging that the child has committed an act or acts subject to a hearing pursuant to section 6336(e) (relating to conduct of hearings) and the child previously has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of an act or acts committed when the child was 14 years of age or older and the conduct would have constituted one or more of the following offenses if committed by an adult:
(A) Murder.
(B) Voluntary manslaughter.
(C) Aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) or (2).
(D) Sexual Assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1.
(E) Aggravated indecent assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3125.
(F) Arson as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)(1).
(G) Burglary as a felony in the first degree as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502(c)(1).
(H) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
(I) Kidnapping.
(J) Rape.
(K) Robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii).
(L) Robbery of motor vehicle.
(M) Violation of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61.
(N) Attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in this subparagraph.
(2) If the conduct of the child meets the requirements for disclosure as set forth in paragraph (1.1), then the law enforcement agency shall disclose the name, age and address of the child, the offenses charged and the disposition of the case.
(c) Fingerprints and photographs.--
(1) Law enforcement officers shall have the authority to take or cause to be taken the fingerprints or photographs, or both, of any child who is alleged to have committed an act designated as a misdemeanor or felony under the laws of this Commonwealth or of another state if the act occurred in that state or under Federal law. If a child is found to be a delinquent child pursuant to section 6341 (relating to adjudication) on the basis of an act designated as a misdemeanor or felony or the child's case is transferred for criminal prosecution pursuant to section 6355, the law enforcement agency that alleged the child to be a delinquent child shall take or cause to be taken the fingerprints and photographs of the child, if not previously taken pursuant to this case, and ensure that these records are forwarded to the central repository pursuant to section 6309(c) (relating to juvenile history record information). If a child was alleged to be delinquent by other than a law enforcement agency, the court shall direct the juvenile probation department to ensure that the delinquent child's fingerprints and photographs are taken by a law enforcement agency.
(2) Fingerprint and photographic records may be disseminated to law enforcement officers of other jurisdictions, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may be used for investigative purposes.
(3) Fingerprints and photographic records of children shall be kept separately from adults and shall be immediately destroyed upon notice of the court as provided under section 6341(a) (relating to adjudication) by all persons and agencies having these records if the child is not adjudicated delinquent or not found guilty in a criminal proceeding for reason of the alleged acts.
(d) Pennsylvania State Police registry.--
(1) The contents of law enforcement records and files concerning a child shall not be disclosed to the public except if the child is 14 years of age or older at the time of the alleged conduct and if any of the following apply:
(i) The child has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of any offense enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105 (relating to persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms).
(ii) A petition alleging delinquency has been filed by a law enforcement agency alleging that the child has committed any offense enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105 and the child previously has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of an act or acts which included the elements of one of such crimes.
(iii) (Deleted by amendment).
(2) (Repealed).
(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Feb. 29, 1980, P.L.36, No.12, eff. 60 days; June 26, 1981, P.L.123, No.41, eff. 60 days; Dec. 11, 1986, P.L.1521, No.165, eff. 60 days; Dec. 22, 1989, P.L.727, No.99, eff. imd.; Mar. 15, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.972, No.6, eff. 60 days; June 13, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1024, No.17, eff. 120 days; Nov. 22, 1995, P.L.621, No.66, eff. imd.; May 22, 1996, P.L.300, No.46, eff. imd.; Jan. 27, 1998, P.L.20, No.3, eff. 60 days; Nov. 29, 2004, P.L.1364, No.176, eff. imd.; July 7, 2006, P.L.378, No.81, eff. 7 days; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1167, No.107, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; June 28, 2018, P.L.402, No.56, eff. 365 days)

2018 Amendment. Act 56 amended subsec. (b). See the Preamble to Act 56 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to findings and declarations.
2013 Amendment. Act 107 added subsec. (a)(6). See section 6 of Act 107 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to applicability.
2006 Amendment. Section 5 of Act 81 provided that Act 81 shall apply to all actions instituted on or after the effective date of Act 81.
1998 Amendment. Act 3 amended subsec. (c)(1).
1996 Amendment. Act 46 deleted subsec. (d)(1)(iii).
1995 Repeal. Act 66 repealed subsec. (d)(1)(i) and (ii) in part and repealed subsec. (d)(2). The repealed provisions have been deleted from the text.
1995 Amendments. Act 6, 1st Sp.Sess., amended the entire section and Act 17, 1st Sp.Sess., added subsec. (d). See the preamble to Act 17 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative purpose.
References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.
Cross References. Section 6308 is referred to in sections 6307, 6309 of this title; section 6111.1 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses).

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes