Anyone who thinks a juvenile arrest record just disappears when you turn 18 is wrongly mistaken. If you developed a criminal record as a teenager, it is still there. Even worse, it is accessible to the general public. This means that anybody with your name and a WiFi connection can look up your arrest and criminal records. But does this matter now that you are an adult?
Yes. Continue reading to learn why and what you can do to clean up your juvenile criminal history in Indiana.
Juvenile Records Can Impact Your Quality of Life
Juvenile arrest and criminal records stay with you for life unless something is done about it. When you apply for a job or professional license, or get placed as a candidate for a promotion, a background check of your entire criminal history will be carried out. If you have arrests, criminal penalties, or charges against you as a teenager, it will appear on the results of the scan.
But employers are not the only authorities you need to worry about, or even people. As mentioned, criminal records can be accessed by the general public. Imagine getting set up on a blind date. Your date might look you up on the internet, and if they so choose, run a background check on you. A tainted past might turn them off from going on the date.
Consider applying to a college, trade school, or grad school. Same process applies. If you have some questionable adjudications on your background scan, the board might be inclined to reject your application. Are you interested in joining the military? The recruiters will review your criminal history, and that includes your juvenile records. Have you ever dreamed of being a foster parent? Well, if you have any juvenile adjudications on your record, the Indiana Department of Child Services says you cannot.
The same expected risks apply to landlords, leasing agents, banks, financial institutions, charitable foundation programs, municipal memberships, and more. So, you can see how a juvenile record can have lasting, negative effects on an adult’s life. Fortunately, there may be a solution.
Criminal Record Expungement in Indiana
Indiana’s Second Chance Law was passed a few years ago, and it allows past offenders, innocent or not, to seal or destroy criminal records upon qualifications. If approved for criminal record expungement or record sealing, each have their own set of requirements, the general public can no longer access the records, including employers and financial institutions. It truly is a second chance at life for those who qualify!
Are you are wondering about your eligibility for criminal record sealing and expungement? Contact us at 317-636-7514 to speak with an experienced expungement lawyer in Indianapolis who is well-versed in the new criminal record expungement law. Our Indiana criminal expungement services start as low as $850!
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