California Juvenile Record Sealing
California Welfare and Institutions Code section 781 indicates that you are entitled to petition the court to seal your juvenile record, five years or more after the jurisdiction of the juvenile court has terminated as to the person, or in any case, at any time after the person has reached the age of 18 years.
WHAT CAN SEALING MY JUVENILE RECORD DO FOR ME?
Sealing a juvenile arrest record in California is very important because, once sealed, you no longer have to disclose your conviction when you apply to potential employers, colleges, college financial aid programs, and professional licensing agencies.
Of equal importance, once sealed, juvenile records can no longer be viewed by the public, law enforcement, or the probation department. In fact, once a juvenile sealing order has been issued, proper notice to law enforcement, judicial staff, and agencies that keep records, will relieve you of any registration requirements associated with drug offenses or PC 290 sex offenses. Expungement of the conviction in California opens the door to seek California State Certifications, Student Loans, and Housing Assistance. It also helps you overcome background checks associated with apartment and house rental applications.
There is nothing worse than losing an employment opportunity for that dream job because of a minor blemish on your record when the employer conducts a criminal background check.
There is nothing worse than being unable to fulfill your goals of entering a professional field (Medical, Real Estate, Contracting, Government or State Agencies) after years of education because you can't enter an internship, externship or pass a state licensing exam because of a decade old blemish on your record revealed by a background check.
Why even take the chance! You have worked too hard and come too far to let your past mistakes deny you the opportunity to provide a better life for you and your family. Here is an affordable way to overcome those obstacles and move forward with your career without fail or worry. You can take those steps to obtain closure of your past mistakes today by taking a few moments to determine your eligibility, provide some information, and make your payment. The relief you will receive is priceless.
ARE THERE ANY VIOLATIONS THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CALIFORNIA JUVENILE RECORD SEALING?
Pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code section 781:, defendants are ineligible to seek California juvenile record sealing relief for convictions of violating any of the following sections:
- Murder
- Arson
- Robbery
- Rape with force or violence or threat of great bodily harm
- Sodomy by force, violence, duress, menace, or threat of great bodily harm
- Lewd or lascivious act as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 288 of the Penal Code
- Oral copulation by force, violence, duress, menace, or threat of great bodily harm
- Any offense specified in subdivision (a) of Section 289 of the Penal Code.
- Kidnaping for ransom, purpose of robbery, or kidnaping with bodily harm
- Attempted Murder
- Assault with a firearm or destructive device.
- Assault by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury
- Discharge of a firearm into an inhabited or occupied building
- Any offense described in Section 1203.9, 12022.5, or 12022.53 of the California Penal Code
- Any felony offense in which the minor personally used a weapon
- Any felony offense described in Section 136.1 or 137 of the Penal Code
- Manufacturing, compounding, or selling one-half ounce or more of any salt or solution of a controlled substance
- Any violent felony
- Escape, by use of force or violence, from any county juvenile hall, home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp where great bodily injury is intentionally inflicted upon an employee of the facility during the commission of the escape..
- Torture
- Aggravated mayhem
- Carjacking while armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon
- Voluntary Manslaughter.
ARE THERE ANY COURT FILING OR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES?
You may be required to reimburse the Court an Administrative fee for the costs incurred in processing each petition. (These fees range between $0 and $120 dollars depending on which California Court).
Indigent defendants may apply for a fee waiver by filing an Application for Waiver of Court Fees and Costs combined with an Order on Application for Waiver of Court Fees and Costs. CHC prepares and processes Fee Waiver Applications for $20 dollars.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET STARTED?
Just fill out the application form and submit your application. You can make your payment right now with any major credit card or Paypal, or one of our staff will follow up with you to help answer your questions and help you complete the process. If you have Court documents in your possession, you can fax or email them to our office which allows us to expedite your document preparation and submission even faster.
