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 Maryland, juvenile records are generally protected from public view to safeguard the privacy of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Access to these records is typically limited to certain parties, such as court personnel, law enforcement, and authorized agencies, and is governed by state statutes. Maryland law allows for the sealing and expungement of juvenile records under specific conditions. Sealing means that the records are closed off from public view, but they still exist, while expungement refers to the complete removal or destruction of the records. The criteria and procedures for sealing and expungement of juvenile records are outlined in the Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, with certain offenses being eligible for automatic expungement once the individual reaches a certain age and other offenses requiring a petition to the court. This approach aims to prevent the long-term negative impact of having a juvenile record and to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth into society.