When Can Juvenile Records Be Expunged?
In Michigan, a juvenile record can follow someone long after they’ve turned their life around. While the justice system recognizes that young people often make mistakes, the consequences of those mistakes can linger in the form of a criminal record.
At West Michigan Defense Team in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we believe in second chances. As criminal defense professionals, we work with individuals who want to clear their records and move forward without the burden of past offenses.
Understanding how and when a juvenile record can be expunged under Michigan law is critical. The process is called a “set-aside,” and it can provide meaningful relief. An expunged juvenile record can open doors to employment, housing, education, and more.
Many people assume that juvenile records automatically disappear at age 18, but that’s not the case. Taking proactive steps through the legal process is essential for clearing one’s record and reclaiming a clean slate.
The Meaning of Expungement for Juveniles in Michigan
Expungement under Michigan law refers to the setting aside of a conviction or adjudication. When a juvenile record is expunged, it’s no longer visible to most employers, landlords, and schools. It’s not erased entirely, but access is limited to specific situations involving law enforcement or legal action.
Many individuals are surprised to learn their juvenile record still exists. Even if the offense occurred when they were 14 or 15 years old, the adjudication can still appear on a background check unless it has been formally set aside.
Michigan’s criminal defense laws allow for certain juvenile adjudications to be expunged, but the process isn’t automatic. It requires a petition, court review, and eligibility based on the nature of the offense and the amount of time that has passed.
Key Requirements for Juvenile Expungement
In Michigan, the law allows individuals to seek expungement of juvenile adjudications if specific requirements are met. Generally, a person must wait until they reach the age of 18 or until at least one year has passed since the end of court supervision—whichever comes later.
To qualify for expungement, the following conditions must be met:
Rehabilitation: The court must find that the individual has been rehabilitated.
Public interest: The court must also determine that expungement serves the public’s best interest.
Eligible offenses: Many juvenile offenses, such as theft, drug possession, and property damage, may qualify under Michigan law.
Ineligible offenses: Expungement isn’t available for felony-level offenses that would carry life sentences if committed by an adult, or certain violent or sexual
This process is about more than the original offense—it’s about proving how someone has moved forward and earned a second chance crimes.
The Expungement Process in Juvenile Court
Filing for expungement requires going through a formal process in juvenile court. The process starts by submitting a petition to the court where the original adjudication occurred. That petition must include details about the offense, dates, and reasons for seeking expungement.
The next step involves requesting a hearing, where a judge will review the case and decide whether to grant the expungement. The prosecuting attorney and any victims may also provide input at the hearing.
Criminal defense representation during this stage is essential. The court weighs several factors in deciding whether to grant the request.
Judges want to see that the individual has accepted responsibility, stayed out of further trouble, and made efforts to become a productive member of the community. The way the petition is presented—and the strength of the evidence—can have a major impact on the outcome.
Recent Changes in Michigan Expungement Law
Michigan has made strides toward expanding access to expungement for both juveniles and adults. The “Clean Slate” legislation signed into law in 2020 brought changes to how expungements are handled. For juveniles, the law makes it possible to expunge more adjudications and opens the door for automatic expungement in certain cases.
Automatic expungement means some juvenile adjudications will be cleared from public records without the individual needing to file a petition. However, this provision isn’t yet in full effect and may not apply to all offenses. For those with more than one adjudication or those with ineligible offenses, a petition is still required.
Understanding how these legislative changes affect eligibility can help determine the best approach. Many people qualify for expungement today who wouldn’t have under older laws. These developments reflect a growing recognition that people shouldn’t be permanently judged for youthful mistakes.
The Importance of Clearing a Juvenile Record
A juvenile adjudication can have lasting consequences. Employers, landlords, and schools often conduct background checks. Even if someone has done everything right since their adjudication, they may still face rejection based on an old record.
Expungement can lift a heavy burden. It allows someone to apply for jobs with confidence, pursue professional licenses, and attend college without worrying about past mistakes. It also affirms their efforts to move forward and build a better future. A juvenile record doesn’t have to define someone’s life.
In court, it’s not only about proving legal eligibility—it’s also about showing that the individual deserves to be seen for who they are today, not who they were at age 15 or 16. Michigan’s criminal defense law provides a legal avenue for redemption, and we use every tool available to help our clients take full advantage of it.
Multiple Adjudications and Expungement Eligibility
It’s not uncommon for juveniles to have more than one adjudication on their record. Michigan law allows for the expungement of up to three separate adjudications, depending on the nature of the offenses.
The court may consider each offense separately, and the decision to grant expungement rests on whether doing so serves the public and reflects the individual’s rehabilitation.
Understanding how to approach expungement when multiple offenses are involved is important. Timing matters. Petitioning too early—before enough time has passed—can lead to a denial. That’s why it’s so important to review each case carefully and make sure the timing, documentation, and legal strategy are all in order before filing.
Juvenile Expungement vs. Adult Expungement
Though they share similarities, expungement of juvenile adjudications differs in some ways from adult convictions. Juvenile records are held in family court and are generally not considered criminal convictions.
However, the impact on a person’s life can be just as serious. Expunging juvenile records can be easier in some respects, but it still requires a structured legal approach. Michigan law doesn’t treat juvenile adjudications as trivial, but it does offer the chance for a clean record to those who have earned it.
The primary difference lies in how the justice system views rehabilitation. Juvenile adjudications are based on the idea that young people are still developing and should be given opportunities to grow beyond their mistakes.
This distinction shapes how courts evaluate expungement requests and weigh the progress made since the adjudication.
Another key difference is how records are accessed. While adult convictions may be stored in broader criminal databases, juvenile adjudications are typically housed in more restricted systems.
Even so, those records can still surface during background checks for jobs, housing, or licensing—making expungement just as important for long-term opportunity and peace of mind.
Moving Forward With a Criminal Defense Attorney
At West Michigan Defense Team, we believe everyone deserves a second chance. Michigan’s expungement laws provide a meaningful way to move forward from past mistakes. We’re proud to serve Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas of Kalamazoo, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, and throughout Western Michigan. Call today to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
