One of the most common questions our criminal defense attorneys in San Bernardino hear from young people and families after a juvenile case ends is whether the record can be sealed. For many people, the answer is yes. California law allows juvenile records to be sealed in a range of circumstances, and when sealing is granted, those records will not appear on most background checks. That means the case will not surface in job applications, housing searches, or school admissions processes that happen years after the matter closed.
The longer answer involves eligibility criteria that depend on the offense involved, the person's subsequent history, and a process that does not happen automatically. This overview covers the general framework as it currently stands under California law.
What California Law Says About Juvenile Record Sealing
Welfare and Institutions Code 786 governs the sealing of juvenile records in California. Under this statute, the court may seal the records of a person who had a petition filed against them in juvenile court. When sealing is granted, the proceedings in that case are treated as though they never occurred for most legal purposes. The record is not visible to employers conducting standard background checks or to landlords reviewing rental applications through typical screening processes.
Sealing is not limited to cases where the allegations were found to be untrue or where the petition was dismissed. People who were actually adjudicated, meaning the court found the petition's allegations to be true, can still qualify for sealing if they meet the applicable criteria. This is one of the features that meaningfully distinguishes the juvenile system from adult criminal court, where a conviction creates a permanent public record that is harder to remove and where the remedies work differently, as the comparison between expungement and sealing shows.
Who Qualifies to Have Their Juvenile Record Sealed
Eligibility for sealing under WIC 786 requires that the person has completed any probation or supervision period, has not been convicted of a felony or certain disqualifying misdemeanors after turning 18, and is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. The petition can generally be filed after the person turns 18 and the court's jurisdiction has ended, though the timing depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
The nature of the underlying offense is the most significant limiting factor. Certain offenses listed under Welfare and Institutions Code 707(b), which include serious and violent felonies such as murder, rape, and robbery, are specifically excluded from sealing eligibility under WIC 786. If the juvenile was adjudicated on one of those offenses, sealing under this provision is not available. For offenses that do not fall within those exclusions, and where the person has not picked up a disqualifying adult conviction, sealing is a realistic option that many San Bernardino County residents can and should pursue.
The Process of Sealing a Juvenile Record in San Bernardino County
Filing a petition to seal a juvenile record in San Bernardino County involves preparing and submitting the petition to the juvenile court and serving the relevant parties, which typically includes the probation department and the District Attorney's office. The court then reviews the petition and decides whether to grant sealing on the papers alone or to schedule a hearing.
In cases where the eligibility criteria are clearly met, the process often proceeds without significant opposition. Some courts initiate sealing on their own for qualifying cases without the person needing to file a petition at all. In situations where the nature of the prior offense raises questions about eligibility, or where documentation gaps exist, a hearing may be scheduled. Having an attorney familiar with WIC 786 and with how San Bernardino's juvenile court processes these petitions helps even in cases that appear routine, because paperwork errors or missing records can delay the process and create complications that are entirely avoidable with proper preparation. Record clearing is a core part of what we do, from adult expungement to juvenile record sealing. Tammy Higgins spent 16 years as a San Bernardino County public defender before founding our practice, and that background includes direct familiarity with the court records and processes involved in these petitions.
Limitations of Juvenile Record Sealing
Sealing removes a juvenile record from most background checks, but it does not eliminate it in every context. Law enforcement retains access to sealed records for certain purposes. Some professional licensing boards, particularly those that govern professions involving work with children or vulnerable populations, may have access to sealed records or may require disclosure of prior juvenile proceedings in licensing applications. Immigration consequences tied to a juvenile adjudication do not automatically disappear when the record is sealed.
These limitations do not mean sealing is not worth pursuing. For most people the practical effect of sealing is significant, because a criminal record shapes employment and housing for years after a case closes. It removes a concrete obstacle in job searches, housing applications, and academic settings. The point is to understand clearly what sealing does and does not accomplish, so the decision to pursue it is based on accurate expectations rather than assumptions about what a sealed record covers in every possible context.
When to Pursue Juvenile Record Sealing in San Bernardino County
A prior juvenile adjudication should not define the rest of a person's life, and California law reflects that position by making sealing available to most people who qualify. For many young adults in San Bernardino County, the window to pursue sealing opens shortly after they turn 18 and their supervision period ends. Waiting longer does not necessarily harm eligibility, but it does mean living with a record on file when it could have been addressed sooner.
If you or your child had a juvenile case in San Bernardino County and you are unsure whether sealing is an option, the right starting point is a conversation with an attorney who handles these matters. We work with clients in San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Colton, Redlands, and throughout the county on record-clearing cases, and we can assess the specific situation accurately before any assumptions are made about what the law does or does not allow.
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