Is it legal for a newspaper to print the name of a victim of sex abuse during the trial?
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Is it legal for a newspaper to print the name of a victim of sex abuse during the trial?
The victim was male. I’ve never seen a female victim named before. In OR.
Asked on July 11, 2011 under Personal Injury, Oregon
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If the alleged victim in a highly publicized criminal trial is an adult, not a minor, it is more likely than not that printing the name of the person is proper in the newspaper and legal.
Criminal proceedings are public unless the proceedings are sealed by the court. In all criminal cases where the victim is a minor, the name of the minor is sealed and kept "confidential" by state law and court order.
If the victim in the case you have inquired about is an adult, most likely you can go done to the county court house where the action is filed and pull the criminal file to review since it is a public record. Such access results from this country's constitution.
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