Juvenile Records

Privacy and Public Access

In Missouri, juvenile court records for misdemeanor offenses are generally kept private and confidential. However, juvenile court records for felony offenses are publicly accessible. This means anyone can see them and that they can appear in a background check.

Sealing Juvenile Felony Records

If you have been adjudicated of a juvenile felony, you can request that the court seal your records under RSMo Section 211.321.5. Sealing your records keeps them from public view and prevents them from showing up on most background checks.

How to Apply for Help

The Missouri State Public Defender may be able to help you with the records sealing process. To apply for this service, complete and submit both forms below:

1. Application for MSPD services
2. Application for juvenile records sealing (PDF)

Additional Resources

To learn more about juvenile court records, review the National Juvenile Defender Center resource on Missouri juvenile records (PDF)

Contact Information

If you have questions or need assistance completing the required forms, call 314-584-1200 or email district01@mspd.mo.gov.