Wiping the Slate Clean.

• Author: Teigen, Anne
• Position: TRENDS - Expungement of juvenile delinquency records - Brief article

Acommon misconception is that once children turn 18, their juvenile delinquency records are expunged so they can go forth with a clean slate. But that's not always the case, and it can have both immediate and long-term consequences on kids' future education, employment and other opportunities on the way to adulthood. Juveniles with records can be barred from receiving financial aid, getting a job, joining the military or being admitted into certain licensed professions.

Some juvenile records are sealed rather than destroyed; that makes them available to law enforcement and judges but not the public. All states allow most juveniles to petition to either seal or expunge their records, but these procedures often can be confusing and cumbersome. Sometimes, juveniles are never notified and have no idea whether, when or how they can get their records destroyed.

Last year, at least seven states significantly changed the way they handle these records.

Legislators in Colorado, Illinois and Texas enacted provisions that automatically expunge certain records with no action required by the young person. The...