Sealing Texas Juvenile Criminal Records
The State of Texas allows the sealing of most juvenile criminal records. Hire Board Certified Juvenile Law Attorney James (Jim) Sullivan to file a petition to seal your juvenile records (i.e. expunge). Having these records sealed by an attorney ensures your or your
child's juvenile record doesn't show up on criminal background checks. Colleges, prospective employers and the military all do criminal
background checks on applicants. Unlike adult non-disclosure (record
sealing) cases, a juvenile is not required to be sentenced to
adjudication probation. Even if a juvenile is convicted of a crime, a
juvenile's delinquent record can be sealed as long as he or she:
- Did not receive a determinate sentence (which may have been determinate probation or a determinate sentence to the TJJD).
- Is not currently registered as a sex offender.
- Was not certified to be tried as an adult.
Juveniles
can get felony records sealed at age 19 (and possibly sooner if the
juvenile successfully completed a drug court program or a sex offender
treatment program) and misdemeanor records sealed two years after the
end of probation. If a juvenile successfully completes a deferred
prosecution (a form of pretrial diversion), the juvenile can petition
the court to seal his records as soon as he successfully completes the
deferred prosecution (usually 6 months).
Juveniles have their entire lives ahead of them, so
do not let one mistake as a teenager ruin your or your child's entire
future. Call Board Certified Houston Juvenile Law Attorney James Sullivan at 281-546-6428 to have him file a petition today to seal your juvenile's records. Sullivan has been board certified since 2004 and practicing juvenile law since 1994.
