Teenagers and other juvenile defendants are subject to different rules and procedures than adults. The juvenile justice system largely focuses on rehabilitation and addressing issues that cause delinquent conduct.
The goal is to help youthful offenders learn from their mistakes and make better choices in the future. Unfortunately, even those who improved their circumstances after facing juvenile charges might face social stigma due to their criminal record. Can young adults in Alabama expect the criminal courts to automatically seal their criminal records after they turn 18 or fulfill their sentences?
Juvenile expungement is not automatic
Some states have laws that help teenagers recover from prior mistakes. They may restrict who can access records of juvenile offenses once young adults turn 18 or have fulfilled all requirements imposed on them by the juvenile courts.
Alabama does not have an automatic expungement statute in place. In fact, there isn’t even a standardized document or petition that allows an underage defendant to ask the state to expunge their record. They must work with an attorney in most cases to draft customized paperwork that they submit to the courts to seal the records of their prior offense.
Typically, defendants must wait at least two years after the completion of the juvenile justice process to ask to seal their records. They may even be eligible for the destruction of the records if they avoid additional convictions and request expungement no sooner than five years after they become legal adults.
Expunging the record of an underage criminal offense can help young adults begin adulthood with a clean slate. Two adults and parents of juvenile defendants may want to consult with a criminal defense attorney about eligibility for an Alabama expungement.