IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

                        ORDER NO.   1294  

                                  Amending Delinquency Rules 3,
21, and 27 concerning admission to hearings and access to records.

IT IS ORDERED:

    1.   Paragraph (c) of Delinquency Rule 3 is amended to read:

              (c)  Admission to Hearings.  The
provisions of AS 47.12.110(d) apply to govern admission of the
public to adjudication hearings.  Disposition hearings, temporary
detention hearings, hearings in the nature of an arraignment on a
petition, and other proceedings before the court are not open to
the public unless requested by the juvenile. However, the court
may, after due consideration for the welfare of the juvenile and
the interests of the public, admit specific individuals to a
hearing or proceeding, and shall admit victims of the juvenile's
offense to hearings or proceedings as required by AS 47.12.

    2.   Paragraph (a) of Delinquency Rule 21 is amended to read:

              (a)  Nature of Proceeding. The
adjudication hearing is a trial on the merits of the petition for
adjudication. The court will decide the merits of the case unless
the juvenile requests a trial by jury. The juvenile must request a
jury trial within 10 days of the arraignment on petition or when
entering a deny plea, whichever is later.  The department may not
request an adjudication by jury.  Admission of the public to
adjudication hearings is governed by AS 47.12.110.

    3.   Delinquency Rule 27 is amended to read:

              The court records of a juvenile
proceeding are confidential. Information may not be released and
access to the records may not be permitted except as authorized by
statute or upon court order for good cause shown under conditions
as the court may set, except that:

              (a) A probation officer employed by the
Alaska Department of Corrections may review delinquency proceedings
records for the sole purpose of preparing a presentence report on
the individual whose juvenile record is reviewed.  The records may
be used in the sentencing proceeding and attached to the probation
officer's report.

              (b) A prosecuting attorney may obtain a
certified copy of an adjudication or disposition order entered in
a juvenile proceeding based on a written request certifying that
the prosecutor needs the order to establish the elements of a
felony offense. The prosecutor may not use or disclose the order
except for this purpose. 










DATED:           October 29, 1997          

EFFECTIVE DATE:       January 15, 1998     



                                  _______________________________
                                  Chief Justice Matthews


                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Compton


                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Eastaugh


                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Fabe
    

                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Bryner