That isn't really true, and a lot of adults learn this if they got into trouble as kids. The juvenile system has a bent towards privacy, but that is all it is -- a bent.
You can either have your juvenile record "sealed" or "expunged" but neither is automatic.
Asking for your records to be sealed is possible a number of years after the conviction dependent on location. In most places it is 3 years of no offenses except minor traffic violations and you can request getting juvenile records sealed.
Asking for expungement is much more restricted and not even available in most locations. In the rare places expungement is possible it is a long and involved process.
Now, here is what sucks more -- getting your records sealed may seem like the obvious choice -- you don't want that shoplifting thing following you around. But, if someone pulls your record and sees "sealed" they are likely going to think you did something FAR worse than shoplifting.
Additionally, sealed records don't mean "from everyone forever" -- those suckers can pop up in adult trials if they fit a pattern, if they should apply to sentencing or just if the judge thinks they should.
Don't fuck up too much when you are kid, it will haunt you.
Ah interesting - thanks for clearing this up. Yea that "sealed" record issue seems odd - I would expect it to be more along the lines of not being available rather than sealed so the requester doesn't actually know that a record actually exists.
You can either have your juvenile record "sealed" or "expunged" but neither is automatic.
Asking for your records to be sealed is possible a number of years after the conviction dependent on location. In most places it is 3 years of no offenses except minor traffic violations and you can request getting juvenile records sealed.
Asking for expungement is much more restricted and not even available in most locations. In the rare places expungement is possible it is a long and involved process.
Now, here is what sucks more -- getting your records sealed may seem like the obvious choice -- you don't want that shoplifting thing following you around. But, if someone pulls your record and sees "sealed" they are likely going to think you did something FAR worse than shoplifting.
Additionally, sealed records don't mean "from everyone forever" -- those suckers can pop up in adult trials if they fit a pattern, if they should apply to sentencing or just if the judge thinks they should.
Don't fuck up too much when you are kid, it will haunt you.