A minor under 18 years of age could be arrested and charged with a juvenile crime for shoplifting, selling drugs or underage drinking, for example. Many of these juvenile crimes are mistakes children make without realizing the consequences. Yet, a juvenile record can impact a child’s future for a very long time, even affecting their future employment, education and financial options. Many parents do not want a juvenile offense to make it harder for their children to access resources for a fulfilling upbringing.
Getting a clean slate for a child after a juvenile crime conviction is not easy. However, minors can seek to expunge their record. Here is what you should know:
What does expungement mean?
Expungement is a process that allows a person convicted of a crime to have their criminal record sealed. Sealing a criminal record hides a person’s history from the public. This means that a criminal record that is expunged, typically, will not show up when employers and landlords run background checks. However, criminal records may be accessed by law enforcement agencies for specific purposes, such as criminal investigations.
A juvenile seeking to expunge their juvenile crime must meet certain requirements. Only certain juvenile offenses are eligible for expungement, including petty offenses and disorderly conduct. Serious crimes are often not eligible for expungement.
Typically, a minor would need to wait three years after they finish their sentence for a juvenile crime before filing for expungement. This means that a minor cannot be convicted of any other juvenile offenses for those five years.
Professional legal guidance can help minors seal their juvenile criminal records.