
In fact, not only does the record not disappear, many many people have access to one’s juvenile record. Juveniles charged with a felony while they are over the age of 16 years of age, have a public record. Minn. Stat. §260B.163, subd. 1. And any juvenile certified to adult court will have a public record. Minn. Stat. § 260B.125
Your juvenile record can be used against you! Law enforcement agencies, County and City Attorney's Offices and other government agencies have access to all juvenile records and use them against you. The record can be used to enhance criminal charges, used at bail hearing and much more.
Delinquency adjudication (what makes up the juvenile record) can also affect eligibility for public benefits and housing, one’s ability to enter into the military or working in law enforcement and are also used when calculating adult criminal history scores. Although a delinquency adjudication is not a criminal conviction (Minn. Stat. § 260B.245) it is seen in many ways for all intents and purposes the same as a conviction.
The Department of Human Services has access to your Juvenile Records for a background study if you want to volunteer, work with children, vulnerable adults, in health care, adopt or be a foster parent, Minn. Stat. § 245C.08 subd. 4 The Department of Human Services does not need an adjudication or conviction to disqualify someone. They just need a “preponderance of the evidence” that a person engaged in particular conduct.
Why and I telling you all this bad news? Because I have good news. On January 1, 2015 the expungement laws in MN have changed. Now all juvenile records are eligible for complete expungement. Don't let something that happened when you were a kid affect your adult life.
Call for a free consultation to see if expungement is right for you. Don't wait until your record comes back to haunt you.