Sealing Juvenile Records: Practice vs. Intent

• In Event: Collateral Consequences of Justice: Effects on Young People

Abstract

Nebraska has been hailed as a state that is in the forefront of reducing collateral consequences for youth by protecting juvenile records from public access. While Nebraska law intended to provide these protections, the practice of sealing records is much more complex. Many attorneys and system players do not fully understand the web of statutes associated with sealing juvenile records. This presentation will address the legislative changes that codified the intent to protect juveniles and the practical difficulties associated with implementing record sealing. Some of these hurdles include public misperceptions and youth and family misunderstanding the process. Another reason that record sealing practice has not matched the intent is due to objections. Anecdotally, Legal services in Nebraska report that county attorneys object to sealing particular delinquent acts, like sexual offenses.” We conclude with promising practices that we hope will be implemented in Nebraska.

Author

• Anne Hobbs, University of Nebraska School of Criminology and Criminal Justice