This policy paper, from the Juvenile Law Center, urges that we allow children to grow up unfettered by their childhood mistakes—to have their court involvement remain in the past so they can move forward with their lives.

The authors provide an overview of how records are shared publicly and how background checks can disclose inaccurate or confidential information. They also demonstrate, through youths’ own stories, how records carry numerous collateral consequences when we fail to protect confidentiality.

The report includes recommendations for legislative solutions to increase juvenile record confidentiality and opportunities for expungement, in an effort to shift how juvenile records are viewed by employers, educational institutions and housing authorities to minimize harm from disclosure.