In Pennsylvania, the public has limited access to juvenile court records. However, you may still benefit from having your record officially expunged, following the guidelines below. An expunged juvenile record is completely destroyed and removed from the juvenile records system. Information about your expunged juvenile case may later be obtained only for very limited court and law enforcement-related purposes. You are not required to disclose information about your expunged juvenile record to anyone -- for instance, to colleges or potential employers.
Does Your Juvenile Court Record Qualify for Expungement?
You may be able to have your juvenile record expunged if you meet one of the following requirements:
- the charges against you were never pursued or were dismissed by the court
- at least six months have passed since the termination of your supervision and no current proceedings are pending against you
- at least five years have passed since you were adjudicated delinquent; you have not since been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or juvenile offense; and no such proceedings are pending against you, or
- you are over the age of eighteen; the attorney for the Commonwealth consents to expungement; and the court finds that expungement is appropriate given the circumstances of your case.
(18 Pennsylvania Statutes § 9123.)
How to File
To expunge your juvenile record, you must file a motion with the court that handled your juvenile case. Contact the court clerk’s office for more information.
Getting Legal Help
Clearing a juvenile record can be complicated. If you are not sure whether your record qualifies for sealing or expungement in Pennsylvania -- or for help completing the necessary paperwork or presenting your case to the court -- you should contact a qualified criminal law attorney. A good lawyer can guide you each step of the way.
