| State |
Abuse/Neglect Proceedings* |
Statute |
Summary |
| Alabama |
Closed |
Ala. Code §§ 12-15-65(a), 12-15-129 (LexisNexis 2010) |
General public excluded; the court may admit persons with proper interest. |
| Alaska |
Closed |
Alaska Stat. § 47.10.070(a) (2010) |
General public excluded; the court may allow individuals to attend if compatible ith the child's best interests. |
| Arizona |
Open |
2008 Ariz. Sess. Laws 278 |
Proceedings are open; upon request of parties to the proceedings, the court may be closed to the public. |
| Arkansas |
Closed |
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-2-325(i)(1) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public. |
| California |
Closed |
Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 346 (Deering 2009) |
Proceedings are closed except to individuals with a legitimate interest; upon request of parties to the proceedings, the court may be opened to the public. |
| Colorado |
Open |
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-106(2) (2009) |
Proceedings are open to the general public unless the court determines that it is in the best interests of the child or community to exclude the general public. |
| Connecticut |
Closed |
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-122(a) (2010) |
The judge may exclude any person whose presence is not necessary. |
| Delaware |
Closed |
Del. Code Ann. Tit. 10, § 1063(a) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public. |
| Dist. of Columbia |
Closed |
D.C. Code Ann. § 16-2316(e)(2)-(3) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals; the press may be admitted. |
| Florida |
Open |
Fla. Stat. Ann. § 39.507(2) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are open to the general public; the judge may close proceedings in the interest of the child. |
| Georgia |
Open |
Ga. Code Ann. § 15-11-78(b), (c) (2010) |
Proceedings are open to the general public; the judge may close proceedings in the interest of the child. |
| Hawaii |
Closed |
Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 571-41(b) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to individuals with a direct interest in the case. |
| Idaho |
Closed |
Idaho Code Ann. § 16-1613(1) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to individuals with a direct interest in the case. |
| Illinois |
Closed |
705 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 405/1-5(6) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public except for the news media, the victim, and indiviudals with a direct interest in the case. |
| Indiana |
Open |
Ind. Code Ann. § 31-32-6-3 (LexisNexis 2010) |
The juvenile court shall determine whether the public should be excluded from a proceeding. |
| Iowa |
Open |
Iowa Code § 232.92 (2010) |
Proceedings are open to the general public; the judge may close proceedings in the interest of the child. |
| Kansas |
Closed |
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 38-2247(b) (2009) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public; only interested parties and court workesr may be admitted. |
| Kentucky |
Closed |
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 610.070(3) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public; the court may admit persons with direct interst in the case or in the work of the court and others agreed by the child and his attorney. |
| Louisiana |
Closed |
La. Child. Code Ann. art. 407(A) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public. |
| Maine |
Closed |
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, § 4007(1) (2009) |
Proceedings are closed to the public unless the court orders otherwise. |
| Maryland |
Closed |
Md. Code Ann. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-810(b)(2) (West 2010) |
General public is excluded from proceedings that involve discussion of confidential information from the child abuse and neglect report. |
| Massachusetts |
Closed |
Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 119 § 38 (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public. |
| Michigan |
Open |
Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 712A.17(7) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are open to the public; the court may close the hearing if a party of the victim requests the hearing closed during testimony of a juvenile witness or victim. |
| Minnesota |
Open |
Minn. Stat. § 260C.163(1)(c) (2009) |
Hearings are presumed assecible to the public; the court may close the hearing at its discretion. |
| Mississippi |
Closed |
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-203(6) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public; the court may admit person with a direct interest in the work of the court. |
| Missouri |
Open |
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.319(1), (5) (2010) |
Proceedings are open ot the public; the court may exclude certain persons if it is in the welfare and best intersts of the child or for exceptional circumstances. |
| Montana |
Closed |
Mont. Code Ann. § 40-6-120 (2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals. |
| Nebraska |
Open |
Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 24-1001 (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are open to the general public. |
| Nevada |
Closed |
Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 432B.430(1)(a), (2)(a) (LexisNexis 2009) |
Proceedings are closed in counties with a population of less than 400,000; proceedings are open in counties with populations greater than 400,000. |
| New Hampshire |
Closed |
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 169-C:14 (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals. |
| New Jersey |
Open |
N.J. Ct. Rules, R 5:3-2 (2010) |
Proceedings may be closed to the general public at the court's discretion. |
| New Mexico |
Closed |
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 32A-4-20(B)-(D) (LexisNexis 2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to individuals, the media, and persons approved by the court. |
| New York |
Open |
N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 1043 (Consol. 2010) |
Proceedings may be closed ot the general public; interested parties are admitted. |
| North Carolina |
Open |
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-801 (2010) |
The court has discretion to determine whether proceedings shall be closed to the public. Junveiles may request the meeting to be open. |
| North Dakota |
Closed |
N.D. Cent. Code § 27-20-24(5) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals. |
| Ohio |
Open |
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.35(A)(1) (LexisNexis 2010) |
The court may exclude the general public if it holds a separate hearing to determine whether it is appropriate. |
| Oklahoma |
Closed |
Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 1-4-503 (2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals; the judge may order the court to be opened to the public. |
| Oregon |
Open |
Or. Const. art. 1, § 10 (2009) |
Proceedings are open to the general public. |
| Pennsylvania |
Open |
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6336(e) (2010) |
Proceedings are open to the general public. |
| Rhode Island |
Closed |
R.I. Gen. Laws § 14-1-30 (2010) |
Proceedinsg are closed except to those who have a direct interest in the case. |
| South Carolina |
Closed |
S.C. Code Ann. § 63-3-590 (2009) |
Proceedings are closed except to those who have a direct interest in the case or in the work of the court. |
| South Dakota |
Closed |
S.D. Codified Laws § 26-7A-36 (2010) |
Proceedings are closed unless the court finds a compelling reason to open the court to the public. |
| Tennessee |
Closed |
Tenn. R. Juv. P. Rule 27 (2010) |
The proceedings, except dependent and neglected cases, shall be open to persons who are properly concerned. |
| Texas |
Open |
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 105.003(b) (Vernon 2010) |
On agreement of all parties to the suit, the court may limit attendance at the hearing to only those persons who have a direct interest in the suit or in the work of the court. |
| Utah |
Open |
Utah Code Ann. § 78A-6-114 (2010) |
Proceedings are open to the general public; the court may exclude individuals in the interest of the child. |
| Vermont |
Closed |
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 33, § 5110 (2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals; persons interest in the work of the court may be admitted. |
| Virginia |
Closed |
Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-302(C) (2010) |
The general public shall be excluded and only such persons as the judge deems proper shall be admitted. |
| Washinton |
Open |
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 13.34.115 (LexisNexis 2010) |
All proceedings shall be public unless the judge determines that a public hearing is contrary to the best interests of the child. |
| West Virginia |
Closed |
W. Va. Fam. Ct. R. 8 (2010) |
Proceedings are closed to the general public. |
| Wisconsin |
Closed |
Wis. Stat. § 48.299(1)(a) (2010) |
The general public shall be excluded from the proceedings unless a public hearing is demanded by the child through his counsel. |
| Wyoming |
Closed |
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-3-424(b) (2010) |
Proceedings are closed except to necessary individuals and persons interested in the work of the court. |
| * The status of the above laws was current as of June 2010 |