Having a criminal record can seriously ruin your life. It can prevent you from working, entering a college of your choice, entering the military, or working in certain professions as a teacher, childcare worker, or lawyer. As long as you have a record and it can be done, it is wise to delete it as soon as possible.
Juvenile records are not automatically expunged once the offender is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. In order to have the records expunged, the offender files a Petition for Expungement with the Juvenile Court of the county in which the crime was committed. Then, a hearing is scheduled before a judge to determine whether the expungement request should be granted. The court will order the removal of the records if:
1. The original charges were either dismissed or not proven true.
2. Six months have passed since a consent decree was successfully completed (a pre-trial program in which the case will be dropped if the offender successfully completes the terms and conditions set by a juvenile judge or teacher).
3. Five years have elapsed since the offender was released from the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court and no other charges have been filed against him.
Furthermore, the request can be granted in circumstances in which less than five years have elapsed. The court can order the records to be expunged when the offender is 18 years or older and the district attorney consents to the expungement. Before ordering expungement, the judge must weigh factors such as the severity of the offense, the age of the offender, any additional criminal history, adult or minor, the adverse consequences for the minor if expungement is not granted, and the interest of the public to have the records maintained.