Are juvenile records expunged?
• A: Most states have laws that allow, or even require, juvenile records to be expunged once the juvenile reaches a certain age. In some cases, the records are destroyed. Sometimes they are simply “sealed” or hidden from the public. In many states, juvenile records are sealed automatically and immediately. These laws allow a minor who has committed criminal or delinquent acts, to erase his record permanently, usually at the age of 17 or 18. The idea is to allow the youth offender to enter adulthood with a “clean slate,” shielding him from the negative effects of having a criminal record. Be sure to check the laws in your state or talk to an attorney for details on expunging or sealing juvenile records in your state.
Most states have laws that allow, or possibly even require, the expungement of juvenile records once the juvenile reaches a certain age. In some cases, the records are destroyed; sometimes they are simply “sealed.” The purpose of these laws is to allow a minor who has committed criminal acts, or in the language of the juvenile courts, “delinquent acts,” to erase his record permanently, usually at the age of 17 or 18. The idea is to allow the juvenile offender to enter adulthood with a “clean slate,” shielding him from the negative effects of having a criminal record. Return to index . . .
