PORTLAND (AP) — A new study by two university researchers in Maine says attorneys, court clerks, corrections officers and judges help spread the myth that juvenile court records are automatically sealed when offenders turn 18.
Juvenile court records are not automatically sealed in Maine and 23 other states. All juvenile records are confidential, but the offender must wait three years and file a petition to seal a record.
The Portland Press Herald reports Susy Hawes and Erica King, of the University of Southern Maine, say in a new report that many people they spoke to in the youth system believed the myth and repeated it.
The duo says juvenile records are also essentially indistinguishable from adult criminal charges.
Attorneys, prosecutors and offenders involved in the system will discuss the findings on Thursday.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less