All states have procedures that allow juveniles to petition to either seal or expunge their records in certain cases. However, these procedures can be confusing and cumbersome, and in many instances, the young person is never notified if, when or how the record can be expunged.
Many programs meant to support youth who wind up in the system were extremely limited or shut down. But some states managed to pass reforms that help more kids avoid the system altogether, which saves the states money and spares the youths from being dogged by a criminal background.
Visit our juvenile justice homepage for links to reports, maps, chart and the juvenile justice bill tracking database.
Visit the homepage to see our reports, blogs, legislation trackers and other resources that span the front end of the justice system—policy and budget impacts on local justice systems, jails, mental health and competency, and more.
View our homepage for comprehensive reports, statutes, legislation and charts on the pretrial release process.
NCSL tracks many criminal justice hot topics like marijuana; human trafficking; juvenile life without parole; death penalty; drug crime policy and other issues.
NCSL maintains criminal justice legislation and bill tracking databases. Check out the new community supervision and reentry resources.