Readers respond: Juvenile justice ‘reform’ erodes public’s right to know

Juvenile justice ‘reform’ erodes public’s right to know

A recent letter to the editor urged Oregon legislators to make it even easier for people to erase or “expunge” their juvenile criminal records, (“

Readers respond: Expungement can lead to real justice for juveniles

,” April 30). But the letter writer ignores how much the Legislature has already eroded the public’s right to know about people’s past criminal histories.

The bill currently in front of legislators, House Bill 2677, would make expungement of juvenile criminal records for many types of crimes automatic. But even those violent crimes that state law says cannot be expunged – like murder, most sex offenses and first degree-assault – are still very hard for the public to find out about.

Why? Because in 2019, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1008, which largely ensures that 15, 16 and 17-year-olds who commit violent crimes are kept in the jurisdiction of juvenile court. As such, their case files are not public, making it virtually impossible for anyone who’s not directly connected with the case to find out about a crime. This creates enormous risks for public safety. Shouldn’t potential employers – for instance those hiring for sensitive jobs – be privy to any violent crimes that the applicant may have committed as a 17-year-old?

This is regression, not “reform.”

Joshua Marquis, Cocoa Beach, FL

Marquis was district attorney for Clatsop County from 1994 to 2019. He also serves on the board of directors of the Oregon Criminal Justice Truth Project