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SHOULD YOU SEAL YOUR JUVENILE RECORD?
A juvenile crime on your record can have significant negative consequences on your life.
The juvenile criminal record can affect your ability to secure employment. It can impact your chances to attend the college of your choice. In some cases, it can even interfere with applications for graduate, medical or law school.
If you have a juvenile record, you need to take steps to have those records sealed.
The reason the state legislature enacted the law that enable a you to seal your juvenile record so that you can start adulthood on a "clean slate".
WHAT DOES SEALING YOUR JUVENILE RECORDS MEAN?
If the Court grants your request to seal your juvenile record, any juvenile records held by the police, the court, the district attorney, and the probation department will be sealed and ultimately destroyed. These juvenile court proceedings will be treated as if they never occurred.
If 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. After your record is sealed, you are authorized by law to say you have never been convicted.
IS THE SEALING PROCESS AUTOMATIC?
NO. Your records will not be sealed unless you file a petition with the court.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO GET MY JUVENILE RECORDS SEALED?
* If you are at least 18 years old, or if you are younger than 18 but five years have passed since your last arrest or discharge from probation.
* You have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude since your last arrest or probation discharge.
* You can prove to the court that you have been "rehabilitated."
* Your case started and ended in juvenile court.
* You don't have an open civil suit regarding the actions on your juvenile record.
IS MY JUVENILE RECORDS Seal able?
Certain juvenile records are not seal able. The charges that are usually not seal able include serious crimes such as murder, arson, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, certain gun charges, car jacking and all violent felonies. Your age at the time of the commission of the offense will however be a factor.
HOW DO I START THE PROCESS FOR SEALING MY JUVENILE RECORD?
Juvenile records are not automatically sealed. Your record will not be sealed unless you file a petition with the court. After this petition is filed, the court holds a hearing to determine if your juvenile record should be sealed. Once these records are sealed, they will be destroyed after five years. Your records will not be sealed unless you file a petition with the court or hire an attorney to do so on your behalf.
CONTACT US TO HAVE YOUR JUVENILE RECORD SEALED
Our office phone number is 925-229-4000. If you need help sealing a juvenile record, you should consult an experienced juvenile crime defense attorney. James Fishel has the knowledge and the experience to attempt to get your juvenile record sealed. We will be pleased to prepare the required documents and pleadings, ant to appear with you and represent you when you appear in the juvenile court.
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