College is often a fresh start for students, but some have pasts that follow them. Take, for instance, "S.D.," an 18-year-old man from Pennsylvania who wanted to go to Temple University. When he was 17, he put an image on a file-sharing network that resulted in his being charged in juvenile court with one count of disseminating child pornography. Under the state's Juvenile Act, courts must notify schools of juvenile offenses by any student. Since the law was enacted, in 2008, it has been interpreted to apply to elementary and secondary schools. But in the case of S.D., who is identified in legal records only by his initials, the court notified Temple. As S.D. remains anonymous and Temple officials have declined to discuss the case, it is not known how the ruling has affected the student and his enrollment. Still, the case has raised concerns about whether juvenile and criminal records should follow a young person, and how exactly a college should handle that information. What to do with that information is a complex question. On the one hand, colleges want to protect their students and staff from potential criminals. On the other hand, young people make mistakes and shouldn't have those held against them for the rest of their lives. Most colleges that collect criminal-background information have introduced additional steps in the admissions process. Some have special committees, including, for example, academic deans and campus security officers. Others require more from the applicant, such as a letter of explanation, an interview, or the completion of a probation or rehabilitation program. Colleges may also order background checks on students who disclose an offense themselves. Colleges that request checks on students tend to do so for applicants to particular fields, such as the health sciences, that may involve work in hospitals.