Get Your Juvenile Record Expunged in New Jersey

Eraser by Bill Harrison, Flickr

The initial penalty following a decision on a juvenile offense is often the defendant’s first concern. But, after your disposition is complete, a criminal record can have even longer-lasting effects. If someone’s juvenile offense can be chalked up to a youthful indiscretion, is it fair for their criminal record to follow them through their adult lives? Thankfully, there are ways to get your juvenile record expunged in New Jersey.

If you’d like to learn if expungement is an option for you, you can review the information below and get in touch with Mark Catanzaro, a trusted New Jersey juvenile defense lawyer.

Do You Meet the Criteria for Juvenile Record Expungement?

If you’ve been through the juvenile justice system and were adjudicated delinquent, that doesn’t mean that you have to have a record, even a sealed record, throughout adulthood. The criteria you must meet to be eligible for expungement falls under two sections: length of time and type of crime. If you can answer ‘Yes’ to the following questions, you may be a good candidate for getting your juvenile record expunged in New Jersey:

Length of Time

Has it been 5 years since the final discharge of your juvenile offense?
Has it been 5 years since you’ve completed payment of any/all fines?
Has it been 5 years since you were released from legal custody or supervision?
Have you kept a clean record without any new offenses?

Additionally, in New Jersey we have special expungement criteria for Youthful Drug Offenders. If you were convicted of possession or use of a controlled dangerous substance while you were under 21 years of age, you might be eligible for expungement after only 1 year.

Type of Crime

For charges like underage drinking or using a fake ID, expungement can be a great option for adults looking for a clean slate. However, there are a number of offenses that are not eligible for expungement, including:

Aggravated Criminal Assault
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Robbery
Perjury
Arson
Endangering the welfare of a child