Sealing Of Juvenile Records
Records of criminal offenses that occurred when you or your child was a minor can have lasting effects. Many individuals are under the mistaken assumption that juvenile records do not appear or automatically come off their criminal record when they become adults. In fact, they remain unless certain affirmative steps are taken.
At the law office of J. Michael Price II, located in Dallas, Texas, we are experienced with the steps and requirements of eliminating a juvenile criminal record and preventing its ongoing harm. Sealing records for juveniles is comparable to expunging records for adults, but there is a separate and distinct process involved for juvenile records.
Preventing Juvenile Actions From Causing Adult Difficulties
Juvenile records are not as freely available as adult criminal records and are confidential in many contexts. Nonetheless, a juvenile criminal record generally is a permanent record accessible to law enforcement or any other person or agency with a “legitimate interest” in accessing their contents. The record remains intact and available unless it has been sealed or otherwise restricted.
A criminal record — even if it only contains juvenile offenses — can cause challenges and limit various choices for you or your child. Processes involved in seeking employment, obtaining a home, requesting a loan and applying to an educational institution often involve a criminal background check. There is no reason to allow a record to remain that qualifies to be sealed.
A Dallas, Texas, Attorney Experienced With Sealing Juvenile Records
After 15 years of practicing exclusively criminal defense and juvenile law in Dallas, Collin County and surrounding areas, we have gained detailed knowledge of the procedure for sealing records of a criminal conviction. Only certain records qualify to be sealed, and some records require a two-year waiting period or cannot be sealed until a minor reaches the age of 18 or 21.
Attorney J. Michael Price II is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in criminal law and by the National Board of Legal Specialization in trial advocacy. He was named in Texas Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters service, from 2005-2018, as published in Texas Monthly Magazine. Contact us by email or call us at 214-765-8000 to schedule a no-cost consultation to learn more about the sealing of a juvenile record.
