Juveniles who find themselves in court with criminal charges may not have the cases haunt them forever, if a bill passed in the Senate last week continues to make progress.

Senate File 2288 would keep most juvenile court records in the state confidential and District 10 State Senator Jake Chapman says he feels that’s a good thing.

“Growing up I think everyone has made some mistakes.  We don’t make all juvenile records confidential but we do in this bill, expand in this bill, some of the confidentiality records.  So minor offenses, we assure that those remain confidential so our young people, if they made some mistakes when they were young, can move forward, find good employment and get good education.  I think it was a good bill that had broad, bipartisan support.”

Forcible felony charges such as murder, kidnapping, child endangerment, sexual abuse and robbery would remain public record according to the proposed legislation.