Seal Juvenile Record
Youth incarceration leads to trauma, low self-esteem, and a delinquency record that can follow the youth for the rest of their life. Juvenile records are sometimes automatically sealed, but not always. If a youth’s juvenile records were not automatically sealed when his juvenile case was closed (for example, because probation was terminated unsuccessfully), they may be able to get the records sealed so that most agencies and employers won’t be able to see it. If a juvenile record is sealed, the person can respond to inquiries as if it never existed. A person may be eligible for this relief if they were at least 18 years old or it’s been at least five years since their case was closed. (W&I Code, § 781.)