Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 119, § 60 (2026)

Delinquent children; admissibility of adjudication in subsequent proceeding; disqualification for public service

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 60. An adjudication of any child as a delinquent child under sections fifty-two to fifty-nine, inclusive, or any disposition thereunder of any child so adjudicated, or any evidence given in any case arising against any child under said sections fifty-two to fifty-nine, or any records in cases arising against any child under said sections fifty-two to fifty-nine shall not be received in evidence or used against such child for any purpose in any proceedings in any court except in subsequent delinquency or criminal proceedings against the same person; nor shall such adjudication or disposition or evidence operate to disqualify a child in any future examination, appointment, or application for public service under the government either of the commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof; provided, however, that adjudication of delinquency by reason of the child having committed an offense against the commonwealth may be used for impeachment purposes in subsequent delinquency or criminal proceedings in the same manner and to the same extent as prior criminal convictions.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 21 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Wheeler, 756 N.E.2d 1 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001).

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Commonwealth v. Wheeler, 756 N.E.2d 1 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001). · cites it 2× “See G. L. c. 119, § 60, as amended by St. 1991, c.”

Police Comm'r v. Mun. Court of Dorchester Dist., 374 N.E.2d 272 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 2× “In G. L. c. 119, § 60, the Legislature mandated that an adjudication of delinquency shall not be admissible in any proceeding involving the juvenile, except subsequent delinquency proceedings or for purposes of disposition, and, in addition, provided that such prior histories…”

Kenney, 850 N.E.2d 590 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 4× “The petitioner claims that G. L. c. 119, § 60, 6 as amended through St.”

Globe Newspaper Co. v. Superior Court, 401 N.E.2d 360 (Mass. 1980). · cites it 2× “See also G.L.c. 119, § 60 (limiting uses of delinquency adjudication) held unconstitutional in part in Commonwealth v.”

Commonwealth v. Ferrara, 330 N.E.2d 837 (Mass. 1975). · cites it 3× “The judge ruled in substance that, under the statute G. L. c. 119, § 60, the records were not to be made available or referred to during trial.”

Commonwealth v. Franklin, 318 N.E.2d 469 (Mass. 1974). · cites it 2× “Such inquiry is subject to the provisions of G.L.c. 119, § 60. [4] The defendant failed to save his right to appellate review of this error by an exception, and therefore we need not consider it.”

Commonwealth v. Rodriguez, 380 N.E.2d 1318 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 2× “123 A, § 5, governing the procedure, including the admission of evidence, in an SDP hearing, and G. L. c. 119, § 60, part of the juvenile delinquency law which regulates the use of delinquency adjudications in subsequent legal proceedings.”

Dep't of Youth Servs. v. a Juv., 429 N.E.2d 709 (Mass. 1981). · cites it 2× “G. L. c. 119, § 60. G. L. c. 120, § 21. This statutory protection does not, however, extend to subsequent sentencing proceedings; the Commonwealth would be free to place the defendant’s extended commitment record before a sentencing judge in a future criminal matter.”

Commonwealth v. Pon, 14 N.E.3d 182 (Mass. 2014). “640, 652, 667 (1978), and that court records properly can be impounded and made unavailable for public inspection upon a showing of good cause, see Republican Co.”

Commonwealth v. Noeun Sok, 788 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003). “See G. L. c. 119, § 60. Counsel cross-examined Downs as to pending charges, and was able to explore any motive Downs may have had to cooperate with the prosecution on that basis.”

Commonwealth v. Ortiz, 471 N.E.2d 1321 (Mass. 1984). “” G. L. c. 119, § 60, as amended by St. 1973, c.”

Commonwealth v. Gavin G., 772 N.E.2d 1067 (Mass. 2002). “G. L. c. 119, § 60. With specific reference to the records kept by the probation department, all such records (both juvenile and adult) “shall not be regarded as public records and shall not be open for public inspection.”

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