Do juvenile records disappear when you turn 18?

Children make mistakes, but their mistakes usually don’t follow them for the rest of their lives. When it comes to criminal arrests and convictions, the same principle does not apply. Read on to learn more about juvenile criminal records, including how long they stay on a minor’s criminal record and what you can do to prevent your child from being held after they turn 18.

Juvenile criminal records remain permanently in the court system. Even when a minor turns eighteen, her criminal record doesn’t go away. These records are available to the public, including the military, employers, banks, schools, housing complexes, homeowners, and ordinary people who want more information about a person. This means that a criminal record can greatly affect a person for the rest of their life in various ways, regardless of whether the crimes were committed before they were legal adults.

Employment

In terms of employment, a person with a juvenile delinquency record may not be eligible for certain jobs, professional licenses (such as foster parent or child care licenses), and promotions. All an employer has to do is call the courts and request a copy of her criminal record to find out more about them. They can then use anything they find to deny a person a job or a promotion. Depending on the severity of the crimes and convictions, the government may refuse to grant certain professional licenses even if a person completes college classes or vocational courses in the field.

Military and Housing

In military terms, a recruiter can easily find a juvenile criminal record. Certain crimes can persuade a military recruiter to deny a person’s registration. Housing is another factor. A landlord or mortgage broker may deny a person’s application if she discovers certain crimes in that person’s public criminal record. Although the arrests, charges, and convictions occurred before they were legal adults, the records can (and usually will) be used against them. People with serious juvenile records may not be allowed into government-assisted housing, even if their parents apply.

Public Police Reports

When a person has a juvenile criminal record, their records are available to the public. In addition, your police reports are also made public and can be viewed and viewed by anyone with a computer and an Internet connection. These same reports and records can be used against a person in their adult years if they are being tried for another crime. Judges, prosecutors, and probation officers can use your juvenile records as a basis for defining their orders and requirements, including sentencing, release, bond, and parole.

Expunction and Sealing

A new expungement law has recently been passed in many states. This means that those who qualify can have their criminal record removed from public access. One method is called delete and the other is called record sealing. Expungement refers to the expungement or removal of criminal convictions and/or arrests from a person’s permanent record. Sealing criminal records means restricting them from certain access. The only authorities that can access sealed records are criminal justice agencies and sometimes child care agencies.

The process required of the petitioner to seal or expunge records is very complicated and revolves around a strict timeline that is difficult to follow. One small filing error or missed deadline, and a person loses the opportunity to seal their public criminal record forever. For these reasons, it is imperative to retain the professional legal advice of a licensed attorney who is familiar with cancellation laws and provides filing and petition services.