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 Wyoming, juvenile records are treated with a higher degree of confidentiality than adult criminal records to protect the privacy of minors and prevent the long-term negative impact of having a juvenile record. Access to these records is generally limited to certain entities, such as the courts, law enforcement, and specific authorized agencies. The state statutes provide guidelines on who may access these records and under what circumstances. Additionally, Wyoming law allows for the sealing and expungement of juvenile records, which can further restrict access or lead to the records being destroyed or deleted. The process for sealing or expungement varies and may depend on factors such as the nature of the offense, the juvenile's age, and the amount of time that has passed since the case was resolved. These measures are designed to offer juveniles the opportunity to move forward without the burden of their past encounters with the justice system affecting their future opportunities.