Clearing a Juvenile Criminal Record

Contrary to Public Opinion, Juvenile Records Do Not Disappear when a Child Reaches Age 18 or 21 - Consult an Attorney

At expungementsandpardons.com, our attorneys are dedicated to helping protect your child’s future. We strongly feel that no one should be forced to pay for a momentary lapse in judgment for the rest of their adult life, especially a minor.

Many people believe that their arrest record and conviction record are automatically destroyed when they reach the age of 18. Unfortunately, this is not the case and an arrest record or juvenile conviction can continue to haunt a person even after he or she reaches adulthood. This can potentially affect their ability to enter the military, pursue certain careers such as law enforcement, pursue college or graduate studies, and/or obtain a professional license to engage in law, medicine, nursing or another professional field. It may also affect their ability to procure credit and provide for their family.

To speak with a qualified juvenile defense attorney about sealing juvenile records, please call one of our national offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey at (866) 439-1346 or (866) 553-0471 or fill out our intake form and someone from one of our offices will contact you shortly.

Who Has a Juvenile Record?

Typically, anyone who has been accused of a crime as a minor has a juvenile record. Whether or not you received a favorable determination, the fact that you were arrested creates a juvenile record in most states.

FYI…the same is true for adults, i.e., an arrest for a crime, regardless of the outcome (e.g., charges were eventually dismissed), creates a criminal record for which an expungement should be sought.

The juvenile laws regarding the expungement of juvenile records vary from state to state. In Pennsylvania, the expungement of juvenile records is covered by 18 Pa Cons. Stat. Section 9123. The expungement of a juvenile record in Pennsylvania is especially important given that a juvenile record is taken into consideration for any future adult criminal sentences and may limit certain future opportunities for young people. Contrary to public opinion, juvenile records do not disappear when a child reaches age 18 or 21.

In other states, there is commonly a statute that deals with sealing and/or expunging juvenile records. In New Jersey, for example, juvenile expungements are governed by NJSA 2C:52—5 and, in Virginia, information concerning juvenile record expungement can be found in the Virginia Code, Section 19.

Our lawyers can research whether you have a criminal record, including a juvenile crime record, and determine whether you are eligible to have your records sealed. Once your records are sealed, you start with a clean slate as an adult and can legally answer "no" to questions regarding previous juvenile arrests or convictions.

To discuss whether you are eligible to have your juvenile records sealed, please call us at (866) 439-1346 or (866) 553-0471 (Pennsylvania) and (New Jersey), or fill out our intake form and an experienced attorney will contact you. We are a national firm and handle juvenile record sealing requests from around the country.

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