It is illegal for law enforcement to release juvenile records

It seems like it would be common sense that you cannot release juvenile records. It's also against the law in the state of Alabama Furthermore, the Code of Alabama 12-15-134 (f) - states that

Except as provided in this section, whoever directly or indirectly discloses or makes use of or knowingly permits the use of information described in this section that identifies a child, or the family of a child, who is or was under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, upon conviction thereof, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor under the jurisdiction of the juvenile Court.

However, that hasn't stopped law enforcement from releasing juvenile records to newspapers, school boards, publishers of mug shot magazines, etc. Juvenile records are sealed as a matter of policy and should remain so from the public. There are rare instances where juvenile records can be examined but those are generally only with permission of the court. Law enforcement cannot simply release juvenile records to whomever the choose. If this has happened to you or your child you may have a case against law enforcement for invasion of privacy as well as other possible intentional torts.