1. (a) Subject to section 15 of this chapter, the juvenile court may grant any person having a legitimate interest in the work of the court or in a particular case access to the court's legal records. In exercising its discretion, the court shall consider that the best interests of the safety and welfare of the community are generally served by the public's ability to obtain information about:

   1. (1) the alleged commission of an act that would be murder or a felony if committed by an adult; or
   2. (2) the alleged commission of an act that would be part of a pattern of less serious offenses.

2. (b) A person having access to the records under this section is not bound by the confidentiality provisions of IC 31-39-1 and may disclose the contents of the records.

   [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-8-1(c).]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.22.