Are juvenile records public?

In the state of Washington, juvenile records are generally not public and are kept confidential. Juvenile crimes are treated differently than adult crimes and the associated records are typically not made available to the public. Juvenile cases and records are kept separate from adult cases, as the goal of juvenile justice is rehabilitation rather than punishment. There are certain times when juvenile records can become public. If a juvenile is charged with a violent crime and the prosecution transfers the case to adult court, the records become public. In addition, certain records may become public if the juvenile is convicted of a crime in adult court. In regard to the records themselves, they are typically sealed and kept confidential. If a juvenile is convicted, however, the conviction record can still be accessed by the public. This means that background checks may uncover any convictions a juvenile may have. It is worth noting that juvenile records are often easier to expunge or seal than adult records. Depending on the state, minors may be able to have their records expunged or sealed after a certain amount of time, allowing for a clean slate when they become adults. In conclusion, juvenile records are generally not public in the state of Washington. Although certain records can become public if the juvenile is charged as an adult, most offenders will have their records kept confidential and have the opportunity to seal or expunge those records when they become of age.

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Are juvenile records public?

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