Failed Policies, Forfeited Futures: A Nationwide Scorecard on Juvenile Records, is the first-ever comprehensive evaluation of state policies that govern the confidentiality and expungement of juvenile court and law enforcement records. No state earned the maximum five-star rating, with the national average coming in at three stars out of the possible five stars.
Public access to records of juvenile arrests, court proceedings and dispositions can impede successful transitions to adulthood for many youth, especially when these records remain available long after the youth’s involvement with the juvenile justice system has ended. These records can create obstacles for youth seeking employment, education, housing and other opportunities. In this National Review, we provide an overview of state laws and policies on confidentiality, sealing and expungement, and note how many of these state laws and policies fail to adequately protect children.
Sets forth key risks of and opportunities for using research on trauma in youth advocacy, and focuses on legal strategies advocates can use in court, and the state and local policies needed to support these strategies.
