"For some of these people, calling the police isn't an option,� Maria Emilia Ramirez, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union of
Kentucky, told the committee.
Kathy Stein, a Democrat from Lexington, calls the bill "flawed� and is concerned the measure could lead to prejudicial treatment.
"It will certainly lead to racial profiling,� Stine said. "� There are a whole slew of reasons not to support this bill including the micro-managing of the police.�
The measure was approved by the committee 8-7 and moved on to the House for consideration.
A bill designed to ease some restrictions on sealed juvenile criminal records is being heard in the House Judiciary Committee.
Last week, the committee heard testimony and discussed HB 436.
Under the proposal, the following changes would be made:
� Permit the public to view hearings for a juvenile tried as an adult for a sex crime, felony involving force or threat of force, first- or second-degree burglary or any offense involving a deadly weapon
� Close proceedings to protect child witnesses or
child victims
� Separate ordinary juvenile docket records from juvenile felony records for children over the age of 12
� Permit law enforcement records regarding a child under 18 to be open if the charges are on the juvenile felony docket
� Juvenile felony docket would be record unless ordered closed by the court for good cause.
� Juvenile criminal records could be shared with school administrators or teachers.
The proposal has the approval of some law enforcement groups as well as victims of crimes.
Rebecca Grignon, the widow of Louisville police officer Peter Grignon, told the House Judiciary Committee that if this measure had been in place last year, her husband might still be alive.
An under-age suspect who had a long history with Louisville police shot Peter Grignon March 23, 2005.
After allegedly shooting Peter Grignon, the 17-year-old suspect, Travis Ballard, turned the weapon on himself.
Rebecca Grignon told the committee that if more people knew about Ballard's history, he too could have gotten help.
"We have to protect our children from other violent kids,� Rebecca Grignon said.
Bill Kealing, the president of the Louisville Chapter 614 of the Fraternal Order of Police, said police on the street have a need for this kind of information.
"If Peter had known about this person's past behavior and criminal pattern, things could be different,� Kealing said.
Tim Longmeyer, a spokesman for the JeffersonCounty Attorney's Office, said the bill could also help prosecutors.
If the measure is approved and signed into law, Longmeyer predicts it would affect many different aspects of the juvenile justice system.
The bill remains in committee.
