The Long-Term Consequences of Juvenile Criminal Records

Law Office of Katie Walsh

A juvenile criminal record can lead to long-term consequences. Going over these long-term consequences and, if necessary, speaking with a juvenile criminal defense lawyer in California makes obtaining the best possible legal outcome much easier.

What Is A Juvenile Criminal Record?

A criminal record is a document that pertains to one particular individual, listing their arrests and convictions. With that definition in mind, a juvenile criminal record is a criminal record for an individual who is under the age of eighteen and, as such, is not being charged in adult court.

Right before we move on, it’s important to note that some individuals who are under the age of eighteen can be charged in adult court. This is often the case when a serious criminal act – murder and sexual assault, to name two examples – has been committed.

If a juvenile is charged in adult court due to the severity of the crime they committed, then they will have an adult criminal record, as opposed to a juvenile criminal record.

If a juvenile is charged within the juvenile criminal justice system, then their conviction will be contained within a juvenile criminal record, as opposed to an adult criminal record.

What Are The Long-Term Consequences of Juvenile Criminal Records?

A variety of long-term consequences can arise from a juvenile criminal record. Some of the most significant of these consequences are as follows:

  • Being forced to pay a significant fine, which takes a long period of time to pay off.
  • Experiencing changes to their status as an immigrant living in the United States.
  • Being unable to obtain the necessary security clearance for certain types of employment.
  • Having their driver’s license suspended or even revoked.
  • No longer being able to stay in public housing or, in turn, to make use of public housing consequences.

Some of these consequences are more temporary than others, but each one of these consequences can and will affect the choices available to an individual and, in turn, the long-term future that can arise from these choices.

Can A Juvenile Criminal Record Be Sealed?

To answer the question above, “Yes, a juvenile criminal record can be sealed.” But, in order for this to take place within the state of California, there are three conditions that must be satisfied. 

The three conditions that can allow an individual to seal their juvenile criminal record are as follows:

  • The juvenile is now eighteen.
  • The case was never transferred to adult court.
  • The juvenile case has concluded.

Regarding the second item on the list above, this also means that no adult charges were given. If they were, then a juvenile criminal record cannot be sealed due to the significance of the charges.

Even though a juvenile criminal record can be sealed, doing so is not always easy. Rather, a thorough and effective petition must be developed and then given to the court.

A failure to develop an effective petition can, and will, lead to the juvenile record remaining unsealed. This will keep the arrests and convictions accessible.

Speak With An Orange County Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer 

If your child has a juvenile criminal record, then they may be able to seal it. Speak with an Orange County juvenile criminal defense lawyer at the Law Office of Katie Walsh, and we will assist you and your child in obtaining the best possible legal outcome.

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