When you are convicted of a crime it stays with you on your criminal record. This is true even for juvenile offenders. Having a record haunt you at such a young age can seriously impact your future because you may be required to report the incident when applying for college, the military, or for a job. Because the State of Florida’s process for maintaining the privacy of juvenile records has long been considered inadequate, changes may be on the way. House Bill 205 was introduced earlier this year and if passed there will be beneficial new laws with regard to expungement of juvenile records.

The bill proposes a lot of things, two of the most important as far as expungement of juvenile records goes include:

  • Reducing the amount of time a person has to wait after turning 21 to seek expungement. Currently the wait period is 5 years after the 21st birthday. This means detrimental information can remain on your record until you are 26. This can pose significant problems when seeking employment and other opportunities.
  • Tightening measures on keeping juvenile records private.

Everyone deserves a second chance. With youthful offenders most times criminal offenses are the product of immaturity. Defining a person by the actions of their childhood makes it hard to move past the incident and live a productive adult life. If the above changes are made, hopefully juvenile offenders will have the chance to enjoy the benefits meant to be provided by the juvenile justice system; which largely include rehabilitation. Keep in mind these changes would not apply to serious offenses. If you are unsure as to whether you qualify, call our office for analysis.

For more information on expungement, call our office to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney. We help people charged with all sorts of crimes in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. Call today to schedule an appointment.