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 New Mexico (NM), juvenile records are protected under state law to maintain the confidentiality of young individuals who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. These records include arrest, school, medical, behavioral health, and family history documents. Access to juvenile records is generally restricted to certain parties, such as court personnel, law enforcement, and specific agencies, to safeguard the privacy of the youth and prevent the potential stigma associated with these records. New Mexico statutes provide guidelines for who may access these records and under what circumstances. Additionally, the state has provisions for the sealing and expungement of juvenile records, which can further protect a juvenile's privacy by removing or destroying records after certain conditions are met, such as the passage of time or the individual reaching adulthood. The treatment of juvenile records in New Mexico reflects a balance between the interests of public safety and the rehabilitation of juveniles, differing significantly from the open records laws that apply to adults in the criminal justice system.