Why Should Teens Worry About Juvenile Charges if the Record Automatically Seals in Adulthood?
If you are a juvenile who has recently been arrested and charged with an offense, you may not know what to expect. If you have heard that your juvenile criminal record is automatically sealed when you reach adulthood, you may feel as if there is nothing to worry about. Your future employers and landlords will likely be unable to see your juvenile record. In fact, publicly, it will appear as if the adjudication of delinquency never happened. However, there are still problems a juvenile criminal record can cause both right away and later in life. You may face issues like getting in trouble at school or not being accepted to your college of choice. Additionally, the judicial penalties can last years, even continuing up until you are 21 years old or older. If you have been charged with a juvenile crime, it is important to take the situation very seriously. An attorney can take steps to begin protecting your future prospects as soon as they are involved on your case.
Reasons Teens Should Care About a Juvenile Charge
Although your record will probably be sealed later, a juvenile conviction can still interfere with your life. Reasons you should care about your juvenile criminal case include:
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Sentencing - If you are adjudicated delinquent, you could face criminal sentencing just like adults do. Your sentence could include so much community service that you will have little time for other things like spending time with friends or keeping up with a hobby. You could even be sent to a juvenile detention center for a period of time. You could also be fined and have to give up any money you are able to earn.
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College admissions - If you plan to attend college after high school, you may not be able to get into the college you want to go to if you have a juvenile criminal record. No matter how good your grades are and how well you have done in your extracurricular activities, a college could still reject you based on your criminal record as a teen.
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Professional disclosures - There are some reasons you may be required to disclose your juvenile record even after you are an adult. If you hope to become a member of a licensed profession like nursing or mental health care, you might need to report your juvenile record. This may also be true if you hope to work for a government agency like the FBI.
Teens should be aware of the impact a juvenile conviction can have on their life. If you have been charged as a juvenile, it is important to focus on your defense.
Contact a Joliet Juvenile Crimes Attorney
Reeder & Brown, P.C. is committed to protecting the rights of juveniles in the justice system. Our skilled Joliet juvenile crime lawyers will do all we can to guard your future prospects. For a complimentary consultation, please call us at 815-885-5980.
Source:
https://jlc.org/news/box-stops-some-college-applicants-their-tracks
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