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 Mississippi, juvenile records are treated with a high degree of confidentiality to protect the privacy of minors who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. Access to these records is generally limited to certain parties, such as court personnel, law enforcement, and specific agencies involved in the juvenile's case. The Mississippi Youth Court Law, found in Title 43 of the Mississippi Code, governs the handling of juvenile records. It includes provisions that allow for the sealing of juvenile records, which means that the records are closed off from public view and can only be accessed under limited circumstances. Expungement of juvenile records, which is the process of destroying or deleting records so that they are no longer accessible, is also possible under Mississippi law. This process is typically available for juveniles who have reached a certain age or have met other specific criteria outlined in the statutes. The goal of these regulations is to prevent the long-term negative impact that a juvenile record might have on a young person's future, including their education and employment opportunities.