The confidentiality of juvenile court proceedings

Juvenile court proceedings are, with few exceptions, confidential. The public is not allowed to attend court hearings, and the records are not open to the public. In most states, adjudication stays on the record only for juvenile court purposes and to determine if a child is a repeat offender or if the conditions of probation have been complied with. Once a juvenile becomes an adult, his or her record is permanently sealed and cannot be reopened for any purpose.