How to Get Your Juvenile Criminal Record Destroyed

If you have a juvenile criminal record, it could literally haunt you for the rest of your life. In most cases, those records are automatically restricted, but if you don't take steps to get them destroyed, they could ruin your chances of getting a job, a home or an education. Many people have juvenile criminal records that remain open because they didn't bother to get them expunged. To do this, use the following tips.

Know what's on your record.

You can access your juvenile criminal record through an attorney or via your local police department. Find out which offenses have remained on your record, which usually include A and B misdemeanors and all felonies, but you'll have to check with the statutes in your geographical location. Make a list of all offenses that remain on your record for future reference, as well as how old you were when you were convicted.

Find out if your juvenile criminal record will be automatically destroyed.

In some states, you can count on your record to "disappear" when you reach the age of 21. If you haven't hit that milestone yet, talk to a criminal attorney - preferably one who specializes in juvenile cases - and find out what will happen to those records once you come of age. If they will be automatically destroyed, you won't have to do anything else to ensure it happens, though you will want to check to make sure they aren't still available when you turn 21. Like with all systems controlled by computers, mistakes happen.

File a request to have your juvenile criminal record destroyed.

You will need to file official paperwork to get any remaining convictions expunged. You will probably want to hire a criminal attorney to assist you in this matter because the paperwork can be complicated and full of legalese. You'll need to give reasons for having your records destroyed, as well as any mitigating factors that might help adjust the outcome in your favor. Some states will require that you appear before a judge to plead your case.

Explain your reasons and motivations.