Cactus Village Community

Juvenile Criminal Records Don’t Disappear by CAO Linda Johnston

Jul 10, 2003

I recently encountered a juvenile who was on probation for several crimes. Despite the fact that he was being punished for those crimes, by having to deal with the restrictions of his probation, he continued to commit other crimes. His feeling was that it didn?’t matter that he got caught, because once he became an adult at 18, his criminal record would be wiped out and never seen again. His eyes got wide when I told him that he wasn?’t correct in his thinking.

In Arizona the general public may, in limited circumstances, view an adult?’s criminal record, unless a particular conviction has been expunged from that record. Further, the public is generally prohibited from viewing a juvenile?’s criminal record, and it is a myth the record disappears when the juvenile turns 18. Law enforcement agencies, judges, the military, etc., may still view the record. Under some circumstances a judge may take a juvenile criminal record into account while considering sentencing for a crimes committed as an adult. It can also prevent you from getting jobs and getting into the military in some cases.

Juveniles and parents should not be lulled into thinking that crimes committed while under the age of 18 won?’t matter when you become an adult. A criminal record at any age will follow you and affect your life adversely. . .☺