Does Your Criminal Record Clear at 18? What You Need to Know

Criminal records are tricky. In some cases, they stay with you for life, but in others they may seal after a certain period or after you reach a specific age. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what applies to your situation, especially if you’re not actively seeking expungement or if you don’t have any documentation from the court. Plus, if a crime happened a long time ago, you might be curious if it just goes away.

So, does your criminal record clear at 18? In this article, we answer that question and cover everything else you need to know.

What Is a Criminal Record?

First and foremost, you need to know what a criminal record is. A criminal record is a list of information about any crimes that you were convicted for. This includes police reports, jail records, what you were charged with, and much more. Ultimately, it’s a comprehensive list of information about all the crimes that you’ve committed and details about those crimes.

Typically, criminal records are something that stick with you for life, especially for felony charges. However, some misdemeanor crimes may also be available indefinitely, so keep that in mind as well.

Are Criminal Records Public Records?

Yes, criminal records are public records. More often than not, you’ll find that criminal records are available to the public. As long as they’re not sealed or expunged, these records can be viewed during the background check process or by anyone online who’s using criminal records search tools. In fact, the criminal records of famous individuals or people involved in high-profile cases may be available with a quick Google search.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear at 18?

Whether or not your criminal record clears at 18 depends on the circumstances. For example, if you were under the age of 18 when you committed the crime and were not tried as an adult, there’s a good chance that it won’t be publicly accessible. Still, these records may still be accessible in some situations, because while they’re kept separately from adult criminal records, they don’t completely disappear.

On the other hand, even if you were only 14, if you were charged as an adult, there’s a good chance that the record will remain accessible. That said, if someone has their record sealed or expunged, it doesn’t matter when the crime happened because information about it will no longer be accessible to the public.

It’s also important to note that if your criminal record has several crimes on it, some might become unavailable to the public at 18, whereas others may not. Always consult with a lawyer for more guidance and keep an eye on how state laws may impact your situation.  A criminal defense lawyer can not only help by guiding you through the legal process, but they can also help you to know which of your crimes can be sealed, which could prove to be beneficial. As state laws change all the time, seeking expert guidance is essential when making decisions about your record and your future.

How to Check Your Criminal Records

If you want to check to see if your criminal record cleared, or you want to know what will show up on it, it’s a good idea to use a reliable criminal records search tool. Our favorite choice is Information.com, which offers a criminal records check that makes it easy to check your criminal records.

All you need to do is enter your information into the tool and begin your search. From there, the tool will compile a comprehensive full report of all available public records associated with you. This includes all of your criminal records, but also plenty of additional records, including court records, marriage/divorce records, social media accounts, and much more.

Due to the tool’s ease of use and accuracy, we always recommend using Information.com to find the information you’re looking for. After all, information is in the name.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear at 18? The Verdict 

So, does your criminal record clear at 18? Ultimately, it depends on the crime and how it was charged. While most juvenile records are kept separate from adult records, that doesn’t mean that they disappear at 18 automatically. For these reasons, we always recommend checking your criminal records to see if anything is still showing up with tools like Information.com.

Aside from keeping an eye on your records, it’s also a good idea to have your records sealed or expunged if you don’t want them to be available to the public. Make sure you connect with a lawyer in your state for more information about that process.