Sealing Juvenile Records – California Welfare and Institutions Code 781

Juvenile court records can be sealed under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code in order to shield the youth of the state from being prejudiced in the future because of their juvenile records. In particular, Section 781 of the Code permits individuals to have their juvenile record sealed; but, as any Los Angeles juvenile criminal lawyer will tell you, juvenile court records are not sealed just because you’re the age of majority. As a matter of fact, in order for an individual to have his or her juvenile court records sealed, that individual is required to formally petition the juvenile court in the county where the conviction took place.

Judges’ Discretion

Judges have great discretion when it comes to figuring out whether or not to seal a person’s juvenile criminal records. That said, it is crucial that you seek the services of a Los Angeles juvenile criminal lawyer to assist you with effectively handling your case and dealing with the judge on your behalf. You should know that both arrests and convictions are sealable, and after a record has been sealed, no one will be granted access to them and they will ultimately be totally destroyed five years after the date of sealing.

How to Have Your Records Sealed

In general, the process of having juvenile records sealed in the state of California typically takes about 8 to 10 months.  Once an individual has petitioned the court to have his or her juvenile record sealed, that petition will then be forwarded to other agencies that are in possession of your juvenile records, such as the District Attorney’s Office, the probation of police department, the Department of Justice, other courts, etc.  Note that these agencies might object to the petition and, depending on their respective procedures and rules, they will still have the authority to take whatever actions they want with respect to your record, except those that are expressly prohibited by a successful petition, to include conducting searches of sealed information or making certain inquiries about your history.

Additionally, your Los Angeles juvenile criminal lawyer may also inform you that a probation officer might interview you, do an investigation of his or her own, and supply the court with a report of his or her findings.  The judge will ultimately look through any opposition to your petition, and if the judge decides to grant the motion, he or she will order the police and probation departments, District Attorney, and the Department of Justice to seal all of your records, to include your fingerprint cards and booking pictures for a period of five years, and those agencies will be made to destroy the records after that 5-year period has passed.

Don’t let a youthful indiscretion haunt you for the rest of your life. An experienced attorney can help you put your past behind you by sealing your juvenile records. If you need a Los Angeles juvenile criminal lawyer, please call Daniel Cota at 800-351-6860 for a free consultation.