When it comes to juvenile crimes in California, one of the most common questions our Fresno criminal defense attorney receives from our clients is, “Will a juvenile criminal offense stay on my record for life?”
The short answer, “It depends on the circumstances of the crime.”
If you have a California juvenile criminal record, you may be eligible to have it “sealed.” This means your file closes so that the documents in it essentially cease to exist and are no longer public records.
If all of the following are true, you may apply to have your juvenile criminal record sealed in California:
- You are now at least 18 years of age
- You are not a repeat offender
- The court considers you to be rehabilitated
- You are not facing any civil court disputes
In addition to the eligibility described above, another class of people may qualify to have their juvenile records sealed. If you were released due to insufficient evidence, the charges were dismissed, you were discharged without a conviction, or you were acquitted of the charges.
However, you cannot get your record sealed if you were convicted of one of the following crimes after you turned 14 years old.
These serious offenses include:
- Murder or attempted murder
- Arson
- Robbery
- Carjacking
- Sex crimes
- Firearm offenses
- Torture
- Any violent felony
If you or your child has been arrested for a juvenile crime in Northern California, schedule a free consultation with our Fresno criminal defense attorney at The Law Office of Brian C. Andritch today.