ARE JUVENILE CONVICTIONS PUBLIC RECORDS IN VIRGINIA?

    Convictions for juveniles are different than for adults.  A “conviction” is an “adjudication of delinquency”.  If a Juvenile is 14 years of age or older at the time of the offense for which he/she is adjudicated delinquent for an act that would be a felony if committed  by an adult, then court records regarding the trial for that offense or any subsequent offense are open to the public.  Exceptions include social, medical, psychiatric or psychological records and other records that are specified by the Virginia Code. Access to these record are limited to parents of the defendant, attorneys for the defense , prosecution, court staff, agencies with custody of the child and other persons approved under the statute or by the court. See Va. Code Section 16.1-305.