Juvenile Court Records - Public?

[artbuc]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? DE

Can the public access the criminal records of a minor, eg if a 15 year old was arrested for shoplifting and went before a Judge, could anyone see the results of this hearing?

 

[Ohiogal]

Criminal records are normally public knowledge.

 

[lifeandthelaw]

It is my understanding that the arrest records of juveniles will always remain public record. Upon reaching the age of eighteen (or in some jurisdictions three years after the completion of the adjudicated punishment), a minor may seek to have their juvenile records permenantly sealed, at which point any and all proceedings virtually disappear (can no longer be viewed by the general public). The sealing of the records is not automatic, and may not even be necessary.