Confidentiality is the state of being secret or trying to be secret at the least. Sealed is closed or secured with or as if with a seal. Juvenile proceedings conducted under Chapter 49 of the West Virginia Code are not public proceedings. Additionally, the records of these proceedings are not open for public inspection. Disclosure of juvenile records is not permitted, unless specifically authorized pursuant to West Virginia Code §§ 49-5-17(b) or 49-7-1. Provided, however, in the interest of assuring that any determination made in proceedings before a family court arising under West Virginia Code, Chapter 48, or West Virginia Code § 44-10-3, does not contravene any determination made by a circuit court in a prior or pending juvenile proceeding, family courts and staff shall have access to all circuit court orders and case indexes in this State in all juvenile proceedings. One year after the juveniles 18th Birthday they have to get rid of their record if it is a status offence. I feel that if you were in placement or locked up as an underage human than you should be able to have your record clean after you turn 18 for good. If a person violates the confidentiality rule then Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or confined in the county or regional jail for not more than six months, or both fined and confined and shall be liable for damages in the amount of three hundred dollars or actual damages, whichever is greater.




-Ivalee K.