Opinion ID: 2222266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Impeachment by Juvenile Record

Text: The defendant next claims that error resulted because he was limited in impeaching a witness, Benita Delphia, by cross-examination regarding her juvenile record. He cites Terrell v. State (1987), Ind. App., 507 N.E.2d 633, in support of this argument. We disagree. As a general rule, evidence relating to juvenile delinquency proceedings cannot later be used as evidence for purposes of impeachment. Perkins v. State (1985), Ind., 483 N.E.2d 1379. See also Goolsby v. State (1987), Ind., 517 N.E.2d 54; Engle v. State (1987), Ind., 506 N.E.2d 3. Admission of the juvenile records was permitted in Terrell only because counsel had stated in his opening statement that the witness had no record. The Terrell court properly found that the general rule of non-disclosure could not be applied to conceal juvenile adjudication of delinquency for nine acts of burglary under such circumstances. Terrell does not apply here. We find no error on this issue.