If you are beginning a search for criminal records information for the first time, you most certainly have a number of questions regarding criminal records classification, and how this relates to what is contained in a person’s background record. While there can be a number of legal and jurisdictional factors that affect the accessibility of what is contained in a standard offender background, the search for juvenile criminal background can be much more complicated-as it relates to its nature. In the following category on juvenile criminal information, we explain the search for what is included in a juvenile criminal record, and how the contents of a juvenile criminal information record are restricted according to the U.S. justice system.
Criminal records investigations are typically pretty wide open when it comes to who is trying to access their contents. The only possible limiting factors lie in the particular jurisdiction in which the offender information has been created and stored. While many federal crimes are stored within the grasp of the FBI and assorted U.S. justice agencies, state offender histories can also be restricted according to what the nature of the crime is and offender involved. For example, a person having been arrested for a crime and not convicted could-in certain states-have this information record sealed from public access. Or if a certain amount of time has passed since the crime was committed, an individual in a certain state may request that this records information also be inaccessible. Moreover, if the offender was processed for a misdemeanor crime as opposed to a more serious felony, they too-in certain states-can have their offender information withheld.
While all of the above legal variables can vary dramatically from one jurisdiction to another, when it comes to juvenile criminal records-though a variance does exist-most all states consider juvenile criminal backgrounds subject to restriction. Juvenile criminal backgrounds are-for all intents and purposes-the same as any record of offender activity, so to ask the question, “what is contained in a juvenile criminal record?” is not exactly the correct question, as the contents of a juvenile criminal information record can be identical to that of an adult offender’s record. It is better to ask why the juvenile criminal information record-and the juvenile activity listed therein-most often is stricken from public access of offender record information.
Juvenile criminals-as a rule-are most often treated very differently from adult offenders, for the same crimes committed throughout the entire juvenile criminal processing of their offense and consequent juvenile criminal punishment. In the matter of an adult offender, they would be given a preliminary hearing, trial, and sentencing for a crime committed. In the same situation, a juvenile criminal will most often be afforded the following process geared towards juvenile rehabilitation: “intake of the juvenile, consent decree, fitness hearing, adjudicatory hearing, disposition plan, disposition hearing, probation review hearings, and case termination”. This is due to the fact that prior to a certain age-most often 18-juvenile criminals or offenders are not completely able to understand the consequences of their actions and what’s more-may be subject to any number of influences of their environment as a juvenile. So, unless the juvenile criminal has committed a heinous crime or has shown an overwhelming degree of intention or malice, most often he/she will be rehabilitated with a juvenile criminal boot camp detention, specialized juvenile community service, and juvenile counseling.
With this same approach to juvenile criminals as court processing and punishment, the justice system also handles the actual juvenile record of their offender transgressions. In most all states, it has been common practice for awhile now to expunge all offender histories of juveniles prior to the legal age of 18. So, this information has been held in view of only justice agencies, and sealed from all other public and private entities. Some states automatically expunge juvenile criminal histories or destroy them, once the juvenile turns 18; while other states require that the juvenile petition for this action at the age of 18. On the contrary, in other states, an adult’s present offender activity can greatly affect the accessibility of his/her prior juvenile criminal information record; such as these juvenile crimes relate to the juvenile’s present wrongdoings. Moreover, if the juvenile criminal is involved in a serious sexual crime, it is not uncommon-in some states-to make this juvenile information available-unrestricted-as the registry mandates.