Under California law, the Juvenile Court has a duty to protect the confidentiality of its records, courtroom proceedings, and most importantly, the identities of the children who are or may come under the court's jurisdiction.
The Juvenile Court also recognizes the news media's mission to inform and educate the public about the judicial system and how it works with child victims of abuse and neglect (who may be declared 'dependents' of the court) as well as youthful offenders (who may be declared 'wards' of the court). Responsible media coverage can facilitate public scrutiny of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, thereby allowing the citizenry to evaluate the overall operations of the court and related agencies.
To maintain the confidentiality required by law, while at the same time ensuring the integrity of the courts through public monitoring, the Juvenile Court has a Juvenile Court Media Policy.
To request access to Juvenile Court proceedings, a media representative may contact:
Emily Cox
San Diego Superior Court
Public Affairs Office
1100 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101
619-844-2353
- Juvenile Court Media Policy
- Media Request to Photograph, Record, or Broadcast (Judicial Council form MC-500)
- Order on Media Request to Permit Coverage (Judicial Council form MC-510)
- Media Request and Agreement to be Admitted to Juvenile Court Hearing (JUV-029)