The Legal Aid Society brought this class action lawsuit to challenge the NYPD’s routine practice of illegally accessing, using, and disclosing Sealed Youth Records, which are juvenile arrest records that resulted in a “favorable” termination–such as the decision not to prosecute, the dismissal or withdrawal of a petition, or an adjustment of the case–or those sealed by court order despite a state law requiring their strict sealing. By using and, in some cases, disclosing these records to prosecutors, the NYPD is stripping from young people the presumption of innocence and confidentiality that the Family Court Act is designed to protect.

In October 2025, the court certified the class that could include thousands of affected individuals. The litigation is ongoing.