How Long Does a Juvenile Case Stay On Record in Fairfax County?
Are you wondering how long your juvenile record will stay on file? Will it haunt you past your 18th birthday? Let’s find out the facts regarding juvenile records in Fairfax County, Virginia:
- The records are typically sealed upon the offender’s 19th birthday, or after a window of five years has passed without incidence.
- This incidence could mean that there were no repeat offenses by the juvenile in question.
- After records are destroyed, these are not available for public access. Nevertheless, some authoritative boards may be granted access, including the courts or law enforcement.
- The record is usually destroyed when there were no felonies committed, and/or the juvenile was not found guilty.
- Under these terms, juveniles and their parents can expect the record to be sealed at the eligible timeline of the 2nd day of January.
Exemptions
Say for instance a juvenile committed a felony offense, such as second-degree murder. Are these records expunged after the 19th birthday? According to Virginia laws, the juvenile may be tried as an adult, and similar to adult records, the notation would remain on file for public view.
What about juvenile traffic offenses?
In the event of traffic offenses, these can remain on file with the DMV until the said juvenile reaches 29 years old, or earlier as determined by the charge and the DMV.
Other Facts about Juvenile Crimes
- Many misdemeanor offenses require that the juvenile’s driver’s license is suspended for a certain period of time.
- A Juvenile can be tried as an adult if he or she committed a felony in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If found guilty, the records are sent to the Central Criminal Records Exchange – where it will remain well into adulthood – for the rest of the juvenile’s life.
- Furthermore, felony convictions will restrict the offender from legally carrying or possessing a firearm in the future.
- Some of the top sentencing options for misdemeanor juvenile crimes include detention, probation, or diversion programs. It’s all dependent on the type of offense committed, as well as the history of the offender. More serious offenses like felonies may warrant detention for up to three years.
- If the juvenile is registered in school, the offense must be reported to the principal of the same.
The short answer is that the amount of time that a conviction stays on a juvenile’s record varies and is impacted by the nature of the charge and the juvenile’s prior record. However, particularly in the case of Felony charges you should not assumed that the record will be erased once you enter adulthood. The stakes can be much higher than that and a qualified attorney must be consulted to make sure that all potential consequences are understood.
