THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412210291
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Publishing the names of juveniles accused of crimes would help schools identify violent students, Del. Alan Diamonstein said Tuesday.
Diamonstein, D-Newport News, said he will push for legislation in the General Assembly next month to reveal the names of juveniles charged with crimes.
Such a law would also send a message to students ``that if he or she does something, it would be in the paper as if they were 18,'' Diamonstein said. He said he would set no age minimum for publishing names.
No state law forbids the media from revealing the names of juveniles accused of crimes. But police and court officials are prohibited from giving reporters the names of accused criminals under age 18.
Diamonstein made his remarks at a meeting as school officials from Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg-James City County and York County outlined their priorities for legislators.
Diamonstein, who sits on the House Education Committee, has championed school safety issues in the past.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY JUVENILE CRIME by CNB