Sealing California State Juvenile Records

It is a common misperception that juvenile criminal records are automatically sealed when you turn 18. Unfortunately, this is not the case. If you have a juvenile record in California, you must ask the court to have it sealed, otherwise this information may find its way into your background check.

NOTE: This section refers only to sealing juvenile records from California. Every state has different laws for handling juvenile records.[3226] If you have a juvenile record from another state, you will need to find out what relief is available in that state.[3227] Also, federal juvenile records can be sealed only under the very limited circumstances (the same as federal adult convictions—read more on PG. 993).[3228] If you have a federal juvenile record, it is recommended that you speak to a Federal Public Defender.

  1. 3226

    See Sealing Juvenile Court Records, NOLO, http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/sealing-juvenile-court-records-32228.html. ↑

  2. 3227

    See How can my federal juvenile records be used against me?, NOLO Criminal Defense Lawyer, http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/can-i-expunge-my-federal-juvenile-record.htm. ↑

  3. 3228

    18 U.S.C. § 3607; see also How can my federal juvenile records be used against me?, NOLO Criminal Defense Lawyer, http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/can-i-expunge-my-federal-juvenile-record.htm. ↑

  1. What could show up in my juvenile record?

  2. Who can see my juvenile record?

  3. Who can get their juvenile records sealed?

  4. Who cannot get their juvenile record sealed?

  5. What is the process for getting my juvenile record sealed?