Sealing Juvenile Criminal Records in Florida

Sealing Juvenile Criminal Records in Florida

Juvenile records may be expunged or sealed in Florida if the juvenile meets certain criteria. You can have a criminal record expunged only for a nonviolent offense. You must have completed a diversion program and petition for an expunction within 6 months of the completion date of the diversion program. Juvenile expunctions or sealing are not counted against the ability to seek future expunctions or sealing. Florida also provides that a minor who has had a criminal history record sealed or expunged can later apply to have an adult record sealed or expunged, if needed.

Eligibility: Only specific offenses are eligible for criminal record expunction. You cannot get your record sealed if you have been found guilty of any of the following criminal offenses: assault, battery, arson, carrying a weapon whether concealed or open, unlawful use of destructive devices, negligent treatment of children, cruelty to animals, assault or battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical provider, or public transit employee, or unlawful possession or discharge of a weapon or firearm on school property.

Without any petition or request being filed, Florida provides automatic expunction of juvenile records at the age of 24 or 26, depending on your prior arrest/conviction history (including adult arrest/conviction history). See Process for Sealing Juvenile Records in Floridafor more information on how the record gets sealed/expunged.

Effect:Criminal justice agencies can still access an expunged juvenile record if the purpose is to determine eligibility for various types of underage diversion programs, or if the record is needed for a criminal investigation, or when the subject of the record is seeking employment with a criminal justice agency. Otherwise, any access to the record is illegal, and the subject of the record may in effect deny having been arrested for the specific charge at issue.

For more articles on Florida expunctions, click on the following:

Overview of Florida Criminal Record Expunctions

Eligibility for Expunging Adult Criminal Records in Florida

Sealing of Adult Criminal Records in Florida

Process for Sealing Adult Criminal Records in Florida

Process for Sealing Juvenile Criminal Records in Florida

Do I Need an Attorney to Expunge/Seal My Criminal Record in Florida?

Process for Expunging Adult Criminal Records in Florida