Inform Article

Teens: Are You Eligible to Have Your Records Expunged or Sealed?

09.07.2010
Posted by Noelle Smith of Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
Teens: Are You Eligible to Have Your Records Expunged or Sealed? picture

Generally, if you meet all of the following requirements, you may be eligible to have your juvenile delinquency records expunged or sealed.

  • You have never been adjudicated delinquent of a delinquent offense.
  • You have only one arrest or incident of alleged criminal activity.
  • You have never had any prior offenses expunged or sealed.
  • You must not have committed one offenses listed below.

For Sealing

  • You are no longer under court supervision or on probation.

For Expunction Only

  • The criminal history record must reflect that the charges related to the arrest were dismissed prior to the trial, adjudication or withholding of adjudication.

What If...

If you have one arrest and five more arrests stemming from the original arrest, you may still be eligible for expunction or sealing.

For example, if you were arrested for a misdemeanor and you have five (5) violations of probation listed as misdemeanors all stemming from the original misdemeanor, you may be able to have the original misdemeanor and the violations of probation misdemeanors expunged from your record.

If you pled guilty to any of the following offenses, you are NOT eligible for expunction:

  • Arson
  • Aggravated assault
  • Aggravated battery
  • Illegal use of explosives
  • Child abuse
  • Aggravated child abuse
  • Abuse of an elder or disabled adult
  • Aircraft piracy
  • Kidnapping
  • Homicide
  • Manslaughter
  • Sexual battery
  • Robbery
  • Carjacking
  • Burglary of a dwelling
  • Stalking
  • Aggravated stalking
  • Domestic violence
  • Terrorism
  • Manufacturing substances
  • Sexual misconduct with a developmentally disabled person
  • Sexual misconduct with mentally ill
  • Luring or enticing a child
  • Sexual battery
  • Procuring person under age 18 for prostitution
  • Voyeurism
  • Florida Communication Fraud
  • Lewd or lascivious event in presence of elderly or disabled
  • Sexual performance by a child
  • Offenses by public officers and employees
  • Showing obscene literature to minors
  • Computer pornography
  • Selling or buying of minors
  • Trafficking in controlled substances

The Legal Aid Society's Juvenile Advocacy Project provides representation to children through age 18 in Juvenile Court, Family Court and Probate Court. In addition, representation is provided before the School Board of Palm Beach County and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The majority of children served are emotionally, developmentally or physically challenged. The project's goal is to access appropriate treatment and/or placement for these children. For more information, please call (561) 655-8944.

IMPORTANT: The information on this Website is not intended as legal advice or representation. No attorney-client relationship is created between the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. and any person obtaining information from this website. Public benefits and other laws change frequently. We strive to keep this website up to date but cannot provide a guarantee that this information is accurate as of the time you are reading it.