Juvenile and other courts, and law enforcement and other public agencies maintain a variety of records regarding juveniles who become involved in the juvenile justice system and the criminal justice system—including arrest records, school records, medical or behavioral health records, and family and social history. Many states have laws that restrict access to these records to protect youth from the stigma of a record in the juvenile justice system or criminal justice system. The confidentiality of juvenile records is in contrast with the open records laws that apply to adults in the criminal justice system. Laws regarding access to juvenile records, sealing of juvenile records, and expungement (destruction or deletion) of juvenile records vary from state to state, and are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Florida, juvenile records are protected under various statutes to maintain confidentiality and protect the privacy of minors who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. Florida law restricts public access to juvenile records, which includes arrest records, school records, medical or behavioral health records, and other related documents. These records are not as openly accessible as adult criminal records. Under Florida Statutes, specifically Chapter 985, there are provisions for the confidentiality, sealing, and expungement of juvenile records. Sealing juvenile records means that they are inaccessible to the general public but may still be viewed by certain agencies. Expungement, on the other hand, involves the physical destruction or obliteration of a juvenile's record, making it as though the incident never occurred. The eligibility for sealing or expungement of juvenile records in Florida typically depends on the nature of the offense, the juvenile's age, and their subsequent criminal history. It's important to note that not all juvenile records may be eligible for sealing or expungement, and there are specific procedures and requirements that must be followed to apply for these protections.