What are Connecticut Juvenile Court Records?

In Connecticut, the juvenile court system oversees cases of persons under 18 years of age. Juvenile courts in Connecticut are a division of the Superior Court in each district and are called Juvenile Matters Court. The juvenile court system is assisted in its duty by other governmental agencies and officers such as law enforcement, juvenile probation officers, the Department of Children and Families, and the Court Support Services of the Connecticut Judicial Branch. Chapter 815t of Title 46b of the Connecticut General Statutes guides the court and other related agencies and officials regarding juvenile matters.

The Office of the Juvenile Court Clerk maintains juvenile court records. Juvenile court records serve as a reference to any detail of the case.

What Information is Contained in a Connecticut Juvenile Record?

A juvenile court record contains personal identification information of the juvenile who is the subject of the case and all details generated from the start to the finish of a juvenile court process. The personal information indicates;

• The name of the child
• The name of the child’s parents or guardian
• The address of the child and the address of the child’s parents or guardian.

The court generated information includes;

• The details of the legal action at each court date
• The adjudication order of the court
• Reports of any court-ordered examination or evaluation
• The disposition of the court on the case.

As stated under CT Gen Stat § 46b–124 (b) and (c), all records of juvenile matters are confidential and are for the court’s use. No section of a juvenile record is open to public view.

What Cases are Heard by Connecticut Juvenile Courts?

The juvenile court in Connecticut hears cases which are relevant to the care of a minor or the unlawful behavior of a minor categorized into three types of cases:

• Child Protection Cases

These are cases involving the parents or guardian of a minor in which allegations of neglect or abuse are levied against the adult in charge of the child’s care.

• Delinquency Cases

The juvenile court hears cases of delinquent acts perpetrated by minors. The delinquent act is any action or behavior which violates federal law, state law, a local or municipal ordinance, or an order of the Superior Court.

• Status Offence Cases

The juvenile court also adjudges acts of misconduct by a minor child, which would not be a crime if committed by an adult. This includes the act of truancy and running away.

Who is Eligible to View Juvenile Records in Connecticut?

The provisions of CT Gen Stat § 46b–124 (b) states that the persons who are authorized by law to view juvenile court records are;

• The juvenile involved in the case at the age of 18 years or upon release before 18 years.
• The parents or guardian of the minor in the case
• The attorney representing the juvenile in the case, in the member of the Public Defender’s Office representing the youth, including
• The staff of the Division of Criminal Justice who require access to the record during official duties
• Workers at the Department of Children and Families who require access to the record during the performance of duties
• Employees of the Connecticut Judicial Branch who require access to the record for official purpose
• All other persons authorized by court order.
• The victim of a delinquent act is also eligible to view juvenile court records, as stated in CT Gen Stat § 46b–124a. The individual can request the relevant juvenile court record without a court order.

The members of the public are not eligible to view any section of a juvenile court record as such information is classified as confidential and is not a public record.

How to Find Juvenile Records in Connecticut

In Connecticut, juvenile court records are accessible through the Office of the Juvenile Court Clerk, which maintains the files. Interested parties will have to visit the office in person and provide a means of identification before the clerk to obtain access to a juvenile record. Only authorized persons are allowed to view juvenile court records.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

Can You Lookup Connecticut Juvenile Records Online?

No, the records of juvenile cases are not available through online sources. The confidentiality afforded to juvenile cases imposes this restriction and prevents third-party websites from disseminating information on juvenile cases. All persons authorized by the court to view court records have to make a physical appearance at the Office of the Juvenile Court Clerk to do so.

Do Connecticut Juvenile Records Show up on Background Checks?

No, the confidentiality of juvenile court records prohibits an appearance of the files on a background check. This includes all sections of a juvenile court record and all other records kept by other governmental agencies such as law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families, and the Division of Criminal Justice.

How Long are Juvenile Records Kept in Connecticut?

Juvenile court records are kept indefinitely in Connecticut even after the juvenile has become an adult until a state statute mandates the destruction of the document. The Superior Court also grants expungement upon request. The juvenile can file the petition or the parents or guardian of the minor. If the court approves the petition, all juvenile arrest and police records are erased, and the conviction will be regarded as never existent.

Under Sec. 46b–146, concerned parties can file the petition two years after the juvenile has completed the court order or is free from the court’s supervision (this is only applicable to status offenders and child protection cases). For a delinquent juvenile, a petition for record erasure can only be filed four years after the completion of the court-mandated sentence or a release from the supervision of the court;