Quick Overview
- Many states automatically seal juvenile records when the person reaches a certain age (18 or 21 in most states) or after a period following the case's conclusion.
- Even sealed juvenile records are accessible to certain parties.
- Court sealing and expungement address the official government record - but the internet has created a secondary layer of exposure that sealing alone cannot address.
Can Juvenile Records Be Sealed Automatically?
Many states automatically seal juvenile records when the person reaches a certain age (18 or 21 in most states) or after a period following the case's conclusion. However, automatic sealing is not universal, and the distinction matters enormously for individuals trying to move forward. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) maintains state-by-state resources on juvenile record policies that can help you understand your state's specific rules.
Even when automatic sealing does occur, it applies only to official government records - it does not reach third-party websites, background check aggregators, or news archives that may have previously published information about a juvenile case before sealing took effect. This is a critical gap that many people discover only when they encounter the information years later during a job search or housing application. See also our guide on how to get your record expunged for the adult expungement process.
For authoritative juvenile justice information, see the OJJDP juvenile justice portal and the US Courts website. For records appearing online despite sealing, see our guide on how to get court records expunged and our comprehensive court record removal guide.
- Serious felony adjudications may NOT be automatically sealed even after the person turns 18
- Sex offenses requiring registration are typically NOT automatically sealed
- Cases transferred to adult court are tried as adult cases and subject to adult record rules
- Automatic sealing does not automatically remove records from third-party websites
Who Can Access Juvenile Records?
Even sealed juvenile records are accessible to certain parties. The US Courts provides guidance on court record access generally, but juvenile access rules are set at the state level and vary considerably.
- Law enforcement - for ongoing criminal investigations and sentencing in subsequent adult cases
- The juvenile (the person themselves) - generally has a right to access their own records
- The juvenile's parents or guardians
- Prosecutors in cases where the juvenile is charged as an adult
- Courts presiding over subsequent adult criminal cases (for sentencing purposes)
- Some licensing boards - particularly for professions involving children or public safety
How to Get Your Own Juvenile Court Records
To access your own juvenile court records:
- 1Identify the court
Determine which court handled your juvenile case - typically the juvenile court in the county where you lived at the time. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
- 2Contact the court clerk
Call or visit the clerk's office. Explain that you are seeking your own juvenile records. You will need to provide identification and possibly notarized authorization. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
- 3Request certified copies
Ask for certified copies of your juvenile court file, including the petition, adjudication order, and disposition. Fees typically apply.
- 4Request expungement if eligible
If your records were not automatically sealed or expunged, ask the clerk about the process for petitioning for expungement under your state's juvenile record law.
Why Juvenile Record Sealing Still Matters in the Internet Age
Court sealing and expungement address the official government record - but the internet has created a secondary layer of exposure that sealing alone cannot address. News coverage of juvenile cases, particularly serious offenses, may be indexed by Google and remain accessible even after the court record is sealed. Background check aggregators and people-search sites frequently compile records before sealing occurs and do not automatically update when a court order is issued.
This means that for many people with sealed juvenile records, the practical problem is not the official court database - it's what third-party websites are showing. Each platform requires its own removal request, often backed by documentation of the sealing order. Our court record expungement guide covers this internet cleanup process in detail. The CourtRecordRemoval removal guide explains platform-by-platform removal strategies.
When Juvenile Records Can Be Used Against You as an Adult
- In sentencing for subsequent adult criminal convictions (prior history)
- In applications for certain security clearances
- In professional licensing applications that specifically ask about juvenile adjudications
- In child custody proceedings where the parent's juvenile history may be relevant
- For certain sex offense registrations that follow the person into adulthood
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