Sealing Juvenile Record Attorney
Los Angeles, California

Criminal Defense Lawyer

THE IMPACT OF YOUR JUVENILE CRIME
In California, when a person under the age of 18 (a minor) is arrested or commits a crime, in most cases they will have a juvenile record, which remains a permanent part of a person’s file until it is sealed.

WHAT IS A JUVENILE RECORD?
If you have committed a juvenile crime, you will have a juvenile record. This record contains all arrest papers, orders by the juvenile court judge, and documents relating to your case. Your juvenile record is kept by California law enforcement agencies, such as the probation or police departments.

WHAT IS A JUVENILE CRIME?
Juvenile crimes apply to persons not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts, such as crimes committed by minors under the age of 18. These crimes can include shoplifting, DUI/DWI, drugs charges, robbery, vandalism, truancy, gang-related crimes, murder, arson, kidnapping, petty theft, assault and battery, fighting in school, or other criminal matters. Learn more about juvenile offenses.

WHY SHOULD YOU SEAL A CRIMINAL RECORD?
A juvenile crime on your record can affect your ability to get a job, go to the college of your choice, or even apply for graduate, medical or law school. If you have a matter on your California juvenile record, you need to have those records sealed so that you can move on with your life. Sealing your juvenile record allows you to start adulthood on a “clean slate.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEAL YOUR JUVENILE RECORDS?
Any juvenile records held by the police department, the juvenile court, the district attorney, and the probation department will be closed and destroyed. These proceedings will be treated as if they never occurred. If there is an inquiry made regarding your juvenile record, the law requires these agencies to answer that they have no record of this matter. Legally, this means that you were not adjudicated and not even arrested; you are authorized by law to say you have never been convicted.

NOTE: A Juvenile Delinquency Adjudication (JDA) is not the same as a criminal conviction. Anyone with a JDA has not been convicted of a crime and, if asked this question, can honestly answer, “No”.

IS THE SEALING PROCESS AUTOMATIC?
No, unless your records are being sealed through a procedure called “DEJ” (Deferred Entry of Judgment), the sealing process is not automatic and can only take place after a petition has been filed with the California court.

Deferred Entry of Judgment allows the defendant to plead guilty and complete a court-ordered program to have the charges dismissed.
The charges and the accompanying arrest will be held as if they never occurred, and your California juvenile record will automatically be sealed.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO GET YOUR JUVENILE RECORD SEALED?
You are eligible to get your California juvenile record sealed:

ARE ALL JUVENILE RECORDS SEALABLE?
No. Certain juvenile records are not sealable. These include the more serious crimes such as murder, arson, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, car jacking, and all serious and violent felonies, including strikes. The general rule is that if you were convicted of an offense listed in Section 707(b) of the Welfare and Institutions Code and you were 14 years of age or older at the time of conviction then your juvenile record cannot be sealed.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SEALING A JUVENILE RECORD?
Juvenile records are not automatically sealed when you turn 18 years of age. Your records will not be sealed unless you file a petition with the California court. After this petition is filed, the court holds a hearing to determine if your juvenile record can be sealed. Once these records are sealed, they will be destroyed after five years.

REMEMBER: Your California juvenile records will not be sealed unless you file a petition with the court or hire a qualified attorney to do so.

CAN YOUR JUVENILE RECORD BE UNSEALED?
For the most part, once the process of sealing a California juvenile record has been completed, it cannot be unsealed. However, there are certain cases where your records may be accessed. These include:

CONTACT A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER TO SEAL YOUR CALIFORNIA JUVENILE RECORD
If you need help sealing your California juvenile record, you should consult an experienced Los Angeles juvenile crime defense attorney to help you with the process of sealing your records. The attorneys at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates have the knowledge and the legal expertise to get your juvenile record sealed. Our lawyers can prepare all the necessary legal paperwork, prepare for your court hearing, and represent you before the California judge.

The Law Office of Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates in Los Angeles, California, handles the sealing of juvenile records for clients throughout Los Angeles and the immediate surrounding counties.

Contact us for a free consultation.