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 Pennsylvania, 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. Access to these records is generally limited to certain individuals and agencies, such as court personnel, law enforcement, and some government agencies, and is not available to the public. Pennsylvania law allows for the expungement of juvenile records under specific circumstances, such as when a juvenile reaches a certain age, completes a diversion program, or if the charges were dismissed. Additionally, some juvenile records may be automatically expunged after a period of time if there are no subsequent delinquency findings or convictions. The purpose of these protections is to prevent the long-term negative impact that a juvenile record could have on a young person's future, including their education and employment opportunities.