Information about Juvenile Criminal Records

The law makes numerous criminal documents confidential and not subject to disclosure and limits the disclosure of others. Some Juvenile records are confidential based on the subject (i.e., juvenile records), others are confidential based on the content (i.e., no conviction information), and still others are confidential if disclosure would not be in the public’s best interest (e.g., certain law enforcement investigative reports).

Access to certain records is limited to the subject, researchers, and law enforcement agencies.

The Criminal Justice Information System Governing Board oversees an offender-based tracking system, which allows criminal justice agencies and the Division of Public Defender Services to share criminal history records. These records may be found at the State Police Bureau of Identification, the court, and law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

The remainder of this report summarizes the various laws by record type or subject.

Access to Criminal Records

Connecticut has a comprehensive body of law governing access to criminal record information. Generally, criminal investigations may be kept confidential, arrest and conviction information is public, and bail and non conviction information is confidential. The public can access the information subject to disclosure by contacting the local police department involved in a particular investigation or the court where the matter is heard.