A recent study, Failed Policies, Forfeited Futures: A Nationwide Scorecard on Juvenile Records, from the Juvenile Law Center ranks Wisconsin on the low end (22%) as it relates to confidentiality of juvenile records and a little above average (56% compared to the national average of 49%) in terms of the potential for a youth to have their juvenile record expunged.

What was once thought to be a fairly solid wall between juvenile records and access by others has been eroded over time in Wisconsin,

so that wall looks a bit more like Swiss cheese! Each time we make an exception, we get closer and closer to times past when the lack of good controls over access contributed to some poor practices. While are still barriers to general public access to juvenile records for most youth, even that has been modified through legislation that treats youth more and more like adults.

We do want those working directly with youth to have access to information they need to be successful, but we also know that this information can and is often used “against” youth rather than in an effort to provide needed services and supports. We need to pay more attention to the potential for harm when we go too far in promoting access.

by Jim Moeser