Juvenile Record Sealing Petition

PETITION TO SEAL JUVENILE RECORDS

IN THE [FAMILY/JUVENILE] COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY

STATE OF [STATE]

In the Matter of:

[PETITIONER'S FULL NAME]
(Formerly a Minor)

PETITION TO SEAL JUVENILE COURT RECORDS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS

I. INTRODUCTION

COMES NOW Petitioner, [PETITIONER NAME], and respectfully petitions this Court for an order sealing all juvenile court records, law enforcement records, and related records pertaining to the above-referenced matter, pursuant to [APPLICABLE STATE STATUTE].

II. PETITIONER INFORMATION

A. Current Information

B. Employment/Education Status

III. JUVENILE CASE INFORMATION

A. Original Case Details

B. Charges and Disposition

C. Case Outcome Summary

☐ Adjudicated delinquent
☐ Charges dismissed
☐ Acquitted/Not true
☐ Diversion completed
☐ Informal adjustment completed
☐ Petition not filed
☐ Other: [SPECIFY]

IV. COMPLETION OF OBLIGATIONS

A. Probation/Supervision

B. Restitution

C. Community Service

D. Other Conditions

V. ELIGIBILITY FOR SEALING

A. Statutory Eligibility Requirements

The Petitioner meets all statutory requirements for record sealing:

☐ Petitioner is at least [AGE] years old (or [X] years have elapsed since disposition)
☐ Jurisdiction of the juvenile court has terminated
☐ All probation/supervision has been successfully completed
☐ All restitution has been paid in full
☐ All fines and fees have been paid (or waived)
☐ Waiting period of [X] years has elapsed since:
☐ Final discharge from custody/supervision
☐ Date of last referral
☐ Date of adjudication
☐ No subsequent criminal convictions (or none involving moral turpitude)
☐ No pending criminal charges
☐ Offense is not excluded from sealing by statute
☐ Petitioner was not transferred/waived to adult court
☐ Other requirements met: [SPECIFY]

B. Exclusions - None Apply

The Petitioner confirms that NONE of the following exclusions apply:

☐ Offense was NOT a sex offense requiring registration
☐ Offense was NOT committed when Petitioner was [14/16] or older AND was NOT a serious/violent felony listed in [STATUTE]
☐ Petitioner was NOT tried as an adult for this offense
☐ Offense did NOT result in death or serious bodily injury
☐ Petitioner is NOT currently required to register as a sex offender
☐ Other exclusions do not apply

VI. SUBSEQUENT CRIMINAL HISTORY

A. Adult Criminal History

☐ No adult criminal convictions

☐ Adult criminal history exists (provide details):

Note: Certain adult convictions may disqualify Petitioner from sealing. Consult applicable state statute.

B. Subsequent Juvenile History

☐ No subsequent juvenile referrals

☐ Subsequent juvenile history exists:

VII. RECORDS TO BE SEALED

Petitioner requests that the following records be sealed:

A. Court Records

☐ Petition(s) alleging delinquency
☐ All pleadings and motions
☐ Hearing transcripts
☐ Dispositional orders
☐ Probation reports
☐ Psychological/psychiatric evaluations
☐ Treatment records filed with court
☐ All other documents in the court file

B. Law Enforcement Records

☐ Arrest reports and records
☐ Booking records
☐ Fingerprint cards
☐ Photographs/mugshots
☐ Investigation reports
☐ Evidence logs
☐ Database entries

C. Other Records

☐ Probation department records
☐ Department of Juvenile Justice records
☐ Detention facility records
☐ School records related to the offense
☐ State criminal history repository records
☐ Other: [SPECIFY]

VIII. REASONS FOR SEALING

The Petitioner requests sealing of these records because:

☐ Employment: The juvenile record creates barriers to employment opportunities.

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS]

☐ Education: The juvenile record affects educational opportunities.

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL IMPACTS]

☐ Housing: The juvenile record creates barriers to housing.

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC HOUSING IMPACTS]

☐ Military Service: The juvenile record affects military enlistment.

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC IMPACTS]

☐ Professional Licensing: The juvenile record affects ability to obtain professional licenses.

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC LICENSING IMPACTS]

☐ Immigration: The juvenile record creates immigration consequences.

[DESCRIBE SPECIFIC IMMIGRATION IMPACTS]

☐ Rehabilitation Demonstrated: Petitioner has been rehabilitated and the record no longer serves any purpose.

[DESCRIBE EVIDENCE OF REHABILITATION]

☐ Other: [SPECIFY]

IX. EVIDENCE OF REHABILITATION

A. Time Since Offense

Years since offense: [NUMBER]
Years since completion of supervision: [NUMBER]

B. Positive Life Developments

☐ Completed education: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Stable employment: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Community involvement: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Family stability: [DESCRIBE]
☐ No subsequent legal issues: [DESCRIBE]
☐ Letters of support: [LIST]
☐ Other: [DESCRIBE]

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

California

Welfare & Institutions Code 781:

• Must be 18+ OR 5 years since jurisdiction terminated
• Must petition the court that adjudicated the case
• No conviction of felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude since jurisdiction terminated
• Certain 707(b) offenses excluded if committed at age 14+

Welfare & Institutions Code 786 (Automatic Sealing):

• Records sealed automatically upon satisfactory completion of probation (since 2015)
• Court must seal records if juvenile satisfactorily completes diversion or informal supervision
• Applies to probation granted on or after January 1, 2015

Filing Requirements:

• Petition filed with clerk of court
• No filing fee
• Probation department has 90 days to submit recommendation

Texas

Family Code 58.003 (Sealing Without Application):

• Automatic sealing when juvenile turns 19 if:
• Never adjudicated for delinquent conduct, or
• Adjudicated only for non-felony delinquent conduct
• No adult felony conviction
• No pending delinquent conduct matters

Family Code 58.255 (Sealing by Application):

• Must be 17+ and 2 years since last referral
• No pending delinquent conduct matters
• No adult convictions of felony or jailable misdemeanor
• Cannot seal if determinate sentence imposed or if sex offender registration required

Filing Fee: Varies by county; fee waiver available

Florida

Section 943.0515 (Automatic Expungement):

• Juvenile records automatically expunged at age 21 or 26 (depending on offense)
• No petition required for automatic expungement

Section 943.059 (Court-Ordered Sealing):

• One-time seal/expunge per lifetime
• Cannot have been adjudicated guilty of any felony
• Must wait 10 years for most offenses
• Certain offenses excluded

Early Juvenile Expungement:

• Ages 18-20
• No charges in past 5 years
• Application through FDLE

New York

Family Court Act 375.1-375.2:

• Most JD records automatically sealed when case closes
• Designated felonies may not be automatically sealed
• Petition available at age 16 for non-designated felonies
• Clean Slate Act (2024) provides additional sealing mechanisms

Automatic Sealing:

• Dismissals and withdrawn petitions sealed automatically
• JD adjudications sealed upon case completion (most cases)

X. LEGAL STANDARD

Under applicable state law, the Court shall/may order the sealing of juvenile records when:

1. The statutory waiting period has elapsed
2. The petitioner has fulfilled all conditions of disposition
3. The petitioner has no disqualifying subsequent convictions
4. The offense is not excluded from sealing
5. Sealing is in the interests of justice [and/or]
6. The petitioner has been rehabilitated

XI. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Court:

1. GRANT this Petition to Seal Juvenile Records

2. ORDER the sealing of all juvenile court records pertaining to Case No. [CASE NUMBER]

3. ORDER the sealing of all law enforcement records related to this matter held by:
   - [ARRESTING AGENCY]
   - [OTHER AGENCIES]

4. ORDER the sealing of all probation department records

5. ORDER the [STATE CRIMINAL HISTORY REPOSITORY] to seal and/or delete records related to this matter

6. ORDER that any request for criminal history background check shall not reveal the sealed records

7. ORDER that Petitioner may lawfully deny the existence of the sealed records when asked about criminal history, except as otherwise required by law

8. GRANT such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper

VERIFICATION

STATE OF [STATE]
COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

I, [PETITIONER NAME], being duly sworn, declare under penalty of perjury that:

1. I am the Petitioner in this matter
2. I have read the foregoing Petition and know the contents thereof
3. The statements contained herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief
4. I have disclosed all required information honestly and completely

_________________________________
[PETITIONER SIGNATURE]

Subscribed and sworn before me this _____ day of _______________, 20___.

_________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: _______________

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this Petition has been served upon:

☐ [DISTRICT ATTORNEY/PROSECUTOR], [ADDRESS]
☐ [PROBATION DEPARTMENT], [ADDRESS]
☐ [ARRESTING AGENCY], [ADDRESS]
☐ [OTHER PARTIES], [ADDRESS]

Method: ☐ Personal Service ☐ Certified Mail ☐ First Class Mail ☐ Electronic Service

Date: _______________

_________________________________
[PETITIONER/ATTORNEY SIGNATURE]

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Proof of identity (copy of ID)
☐ Proof of case disposition
☐ Proof of completion of probation/supervision
☐ Proof of restitution payment
☐ Criminal history report (if required)
☐ Letters of support/character references
☐ Proof of employment
☐ Proof of education
☐ Fee waiver request (if applicable)
☐ Proposed Order
☐ Other: [SPECIFY]

PROPOSED ORDER

[Include proposed order granting sealing - see separate form or attach]