A brown gavel resting on a sound block

If you or your child has a juvenile criminal record, expungement may be a process worth considering. Not every juvenile charged with a crime will be eligible for expungement, but Pennsylvania allows many juvenile criminal records to be expunged. While adult records are more difficult, they can be expunged under limited circumstances. A criminal record of any kind is serious and can have lasting impacts on your or your child’s future. For help with filing an expungement petition, contact Cornerstone Law Firm.

Do juvenile criminal records disappear when you turn 18?

A common misconception that exists around juvenile criminal records is that the record will disappear once a minor has turned 18. This is not true in many cases. A number of types of Juvenile criminal records will still exist and show up on background checks into adulthood. They can continue to affect your ability to vote, get a job or your ability to own a gun. In order to remove a juvenile criminal record, you must file a juvenile expungement petition and obtain a court order of expungement. While this process can be lengthy, it’s worth it if you are eligible.

What impact does a juvenile criminal record have on someone’s life?

If you do not expunge a juvenile criminal record, you run the risk of severely impacting your future. Criminal records can affect many potential opportunities, including:

  • Education
  • Obtaining Student Loans
  • Job Prospects
  • Serving as a Volunteer
  • Serving in the Military or Law Enforcement
  • Obtaining Teaching Licenses
  • Obtaining Nursing or Medical Licenses
  • Obtaining Law Licenses
  • Housing Options
  • Credit Ratings
  • And more.

Don’t let one mistake from your past impact your whole future. Call the criminal defense attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm for help.

Who is eligible for expungement?

Not every juvenile criminal record is eligible for expungement. Certain criteria must be met. At least one of the following must be true to obtain an expungement:

  • The complaint or allegation against you was dismissed or unsubstantiated.
  • It’s been at least 5 years since you finished serving your confinement and/or probation, and you have not been convicted of any further crimes.
  • The final disposition was entered 6 or more months ago and no further proceedings have taken place.
  • You are 18 years of age—If this is the only criteria you meet, the court will consider additional factors, such as:
    • your age,
    • your employment history,
    • the type of offense,
    • any record of drug or alcohol use,
    • the consequences you may face for having a criminal record, and
    • whether expunging your record would threaten public safety.

In most cases, juveniles given informal adjustments and consent decrees are eligible. Cases where the charges were dismissed or withdrawn are also eligible. Certain violent crimes and certain sexual crimes are never eligible.

What happens if you’re tried as an adult?

Minors who are tried as adults are given adult criminal records, even if the crime they are charged with took place before they turned 18. Because of this, expunging a criminal record can be much more difficult. It is often better if your juvenile criminal defense attorney works to keep your case in juvenile court.

Prosecutors may attempt to move a case from juvenile court to adult court if the defendant is at least 14 years old and has been accused of a felony.

Is sealing the same as expunging?

In short, no. Sealing a criminal record and expunging a criminal record are two different things. Sealing a criminal record removes public access to that record. Expunging it, however, essentially erases the record from existence. Of the two, expunging is more secure. Even with a sealed criminal record, there are a number of official uses that can still give access to the record. If expungement is not an option for your record, sealing it may provide some benefits to you.

Contact Cornerstone Law Firm for help.

If you’re looking to have your or your child’s juvenile criminal record expunged in Pennsylvania, the attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm can help. We will review your case and work with you to provide the best outcome for your or your child. Call us today to schedule a consultation.