Crime & Traffic

In Illinois, juvenile For misdemeanor offenses, a defendant is considered a juvenile if the offense occurred when they were 17 or younger.For felony offenses, a defendant is considered a juvenile if the offense occurred when they were 16 or younger. records are usually confidential, but that does not mean they are invisible. Law enforcement, courts, and sometimes schools or employers can still see them. Many juvenile records, including those where you were found guilty (“adjudicated delinquent”), A finding for an act committed by a juvenile for which an adult could be prosecuted in a criminal court. Delinquent acts can include drug offenses and crimes against persons, property, and public order. can be cleared. Expunging your juvenile record can give you a fresh start and help you move forward without the mistakes of the past holding you back.

If you were arrested or had contact with the police before turning 18, you probably have a juvenile record. Even if you were not charged or adjudicated delinquent, that record may still exist. You may be able to expunge To physically remove someone's name from a legal record. it, which means the record is erased and treated as if it never happened.

There are two main ways a juvenile record can be expunged in Illinois:

• Automatic expungement: Some arrests or cases can be automatically expunged by law enforcement or the court if you meet specific conditions. Depending on what happened in the case, the type of offense, and what other arrests or cases you have on your record, it can happen right away or after some time has passed. It is important to check with a lawyer Someone who represents clients in courts or who gives legal advice to see whether you meet the requirements for automatic expungement and when you would be eligible for it. Learn what is eligible for automatic expungement.
• Petition-based expungement: This requires you to file paperwork with the court and ask a judge to clear your record. Even if you do not qualify under the stricter eligibility requirements for automatic expungement, you can still petition the court to expunge most other juvenile records. In some cases, expungement is mandatory, meaning the judge must grant it. For others, expungement is discretionary, meaning the judge decides whether to grant or deny To refuse or say no the request. Learn about petition-based expungement.

Some juvenile adjudications cannot be expunged under Illinois law, including first-degree murder and certain sex offenses Any sexual act without the consent of the victim, including when the victim cannot give consent. Includes sexual assault with or without an object, sexual abuse, sodomy, and fondling while you are required to register on the Juvenile Sex Offender Registry. Learn more about records that cannot be expunged.