Jackson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin Sealing & Redaction Procedures

Before inspection for a specified serious juvenile offender records request, the clerk must determine whether the alleged offense qualifies and, if it does, remove specified reports and records concerning sensitive personal information; questions about release must be referred to the assigned judge.

Requests pursuant to 938.396(2m)(a): If a request is for access to juvenile court records made by any person under 938.396(2m)(a) for juvenile alleged to have committed an offense enumerated in 938.34(4h)(a) (Serious Juvenile Offender crimes), the Juvenile Court Clerk shall before releasing the file for inspection: a) Determine if the juvenile is alleged to have committed a crime specified in 938.34(4h)(a); and, if so, b) Remove from the file all reports under 938.295 (physical, mental, psychological, or developmental examination reports) or 938.33 (court dispositional reports) or other records that deal with sensitive personal information of the juvenile and the juvenile's family. If the juvenile court clerk has questions concerning the appropriateness of releasing any information, the matter shall be referred to the judge assigned to that case for a determination.

If the Court grants an expunction petition, the clerk must seal inside the court file all documents referring to the adjudication, including the listed orders, reports, motions, petitions, and minute sheets.

Seal inside the court file all documents referring to the adjudicating, including but not limited to: · the dispositional order · the dispositional court report · all motions and orders concerning extensions, revisions, or changes of placement · all petitions and orders for sanctions · all minute sheets referring to the adjudication or other post-adjudication proceedings · the petition and order for expunction

For a specified felony-records request, the clerk must confirm the juvenile is currently charged with a felony and was previously adjudicated delinquent, then remove specified reports and records concerning sensitive personal information before inspection; questions about release must be referred to the assigned judge.

Requests pursuant to 938.396(2m)(b): If a request is for access to juvenile court records of a juvenile alleged to be delinquent for committing a felony after a prior delinquency adjudication, the juvenile clerk shall: a) First make all of the following determinations: · That the juvenile is currently charged with a felony · That the juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for any crime at any time before the commencement of the felony proceeding, b) Second, if all of the above have been found to exist, the juvenile clerk before releasing the file for inspection shall remove from the file all reports under §938.295 (physical, mental, psychological, or developmental examination reports) or §938.33 (court dispositional reports) or other records that deal with the sensitive personal information of the juvenile and the juvenile's family. If the Juvenile Court Clerk has questions concerning the appropriateness of releasing any information, the matter shall be referred to the judge assigned to that case for a determination.

For specified requests, the clerk must assess whether release could create imminent danger and, if so, refer the matter to the assigned judge or prepare a version with the potentially dangerous information blocked; the requester may move the Court to challenge the blocking.

If a request is made by a juvenile, parent, guardian or legal custodian under 938.396(2)(ag) or (am), before release of any information requested, the Juvenile Court Clerk shall review the file and make an initial determination whether release of that information might result in imminent danger to anyone. If the Juvenile Court Clerk believes such a result might occur, the juvenile court clerk shall either: a) Refer the matter to the judge assigned to that case for a determination as to whether a hearing shall be held on the release; or, b) Prepare a version of the information requested with the potentially dangerous information blocked out. The requester may bring a motion to the Court if the requester believes the information should not have been blocked.