Are Juvenile Criminal Or Arrest Records Public? Attorney Christopher Combs from Combs Waterkotte answers the question, “Are juvenile criminal or arrest records public?” Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers in Missouri.
Jessica Ambuehl: So Matt, if a juvenile is charged with a crime is that record made public?
Matt Brown: No, absolutely not. Part of being in the juvenile system is that your records are kept under seal. They are non-public records.
In Missouri we have what’s called Missouri CaseNet, where, in the adult system you can type in somebody’s name and research them to find out if they have any criminal cases.
You’ll never find a juvenile case on Missouri CaseNet. Furthermore, you cannot go to the courthouse requesting information about a juvenile case. That will never be provided to you.
Another difference between juvenile and adult court is juvenile courts are closed courts. Meaning, anyone off the street cannot just walk into a juvenile court and sit there and see what’s going on. Whereas [in] adult courts it’s all open to the public, so anybody can walk into an adult court and sit down and see what’s going on for the day.
But, juvenile records from start to finish are always closed records. Then they end up being sealed once the case is over.
Jessica Ambuehl: So even if someone finds themself in court as an adult, their juvenile record will not come into play?
Matt Brown: That is correct. A juvenile record cannot be, and typically is not, used against you in adult court.
In adult court there’s what we call enhancements. So if you’ve been charged and convicted of multiple crimes or multiple felonies in the past, in adult court, they can use those to enhance the punishment on the particular current crime that you’re in. They cannot use your juvenile record to try to enhance the punishment in adult court.
Jessica Ambuehl: Is it the same when they receive a summons?
Matt Brown: Typically, a juvenile delinquent doesn’t receive a summons. A summons is typically a subpoena to appear in court.
In adult court, there’s two ways you essentially get notified that you’ve been charged with a crime.
One is via summons where they either mail you a piece of paper that says, “Hey, you need to show up to court on this particular day,” or the sheriff’s department will serve you with a piece of paper. Or you get issued a warrant and then you get arrested and put in jail.
In juvenile court, that’s a bit different. Typically it’ll start out with the Deputy Juvenile Officer. They’ll send you some kind of letter. It’ll start out as possibly an informal adjustment conference. That’s how you’re notified of what’s going on, that your son or daughter’s been involved in some kind of delinquency. You typically get notified through the DJO, the Deputy Juvenile Officer.
It’s different in that an arrest warrant won’t be issued for you like they do in adult court.
If you need Missouri’s leading criminal defense and juvenile crimes law firm to protect the rights and futures of yourself or someone you love, call us today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free case review.
