As of January 1, 2021, juvenile records are no longer public, either online or by request. The only people who can now request a juvenile’s records include, but are not limited to:
– The juvenile themselves
– Their parents
– Their legal counsel
– Law enforcement
– The prosecutor
– The court
When determining if someone has a legitimate interest, the court considers “the nature of the proceedings, the welfare and safety of the public, the interest of the minor, and any restriction imposed by state or federal law.” MCR 3.925(D)(2)
Although juvenile records are no longer public, they stay on a juvenile’s delinquency record unless expunged. Only certain people qualify for expungement. A few reasons one could qualify are if the charge is inhibiting:
– Job opportunities
– Schooling
– Housing
Before this Ruling
Before January 1, 2021, juvenile records were available to the public. This caused many teens and young adults to struggle to obtain jobs, housing, and attend school. Michigan was one of the nine states that allowed public access to all juvenile records. A simple Google search could provide someone with a juvenile’s name, case number, type of hearing, time, and location of their court appearance. The state of Michigan noticed how problematic this was for the teens and decided to make a change.
If a charge on your record is inhibiting you or a loved one, please do not hesitate to contact us today at 810-237-1200 so we can help you fight for your rights.
