Youthful Defendants’ Identity Protection Shield Expanded

A new state law, which took effect on January 1, expands by two years the age range during which criminal defendants’ identities will be shielded from public disclosure.

Public Act 05-232 requires that the identities of people charged with most crimes be shielded from public disclosure up until age 18. Until now, identities were shielded until age 16.

The “youthful offender” law means that youths ages 16 and 17 who are charged with most crimes will remain anonymous, with their identities shielded by police and by the courts.

Youths under age 16 are categorized as “juveniles” and have their cases adjudicated in “juvenile courts” in closed session With the new law now in effect, “youthful offenders,” or those ages 16 and 17, will have their cases heard in “youthful offender courts” conducted in closed session.

Previously, people ages 16 and 17 who were charged with criminal offenses had their cases heard in open court.