Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in South Carolina
How juvenile records are sealed or expunged in South Carolina, and whether it happens automatically.
Short answer: A person taken into custody for, charged with, or adjudicated delinquent for a status offense or a nonviolent crime may petition the family court to expunge all related records. S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2050
| Juvenile records | A person taken into custody for, charged with, or adjudicated delinquent for a status offense or a nonviolent crime may petition the family court to expunge all related records. This is not available if the person has a prior adjudication for an offense that would carry five or more years for an adult. The court must grant expungement of status offenses and may grant it for nonviolent crimes. The person must be at least 18, have completed the sentence, have no later adjudications or convictions, and have no pending charges. If the person was found not guilty, the court must grant expungement at any age, with no fee. Violent-crime adjudications cannot be expunged. After expungement, the person is restored to the legal status they had before being taken into custody, and cannot be charged with perjury for not mentioning the matter. Source: S.C. Code Ann. § 63-19-2050 |
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Where to get help in South Carolina
More South Carolina expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your South Carolina Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in South Carolina
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in South Carolina
- How to File for Expungement in South Carolina
- All South Carolina expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do you seal a juvenile record in South Carolina?
A person taken into custody for, charged with, or adjudicated delinquent for a status offense or a nonviolent crime may petition the family court to expunge all related records. This is not available if the person has a prior adjudication for an offense that would carry five or more years for an adult. The court must grant expungement of status offenses and may grant it for nonviolent crimes. The person must be at least 18, have completed the sentence, have no later adjudications or convictions, and have no pending charges. If the person was found not guilty, the court must grant expungement at any age, with no fee. Violent-crime adjudications cannot be expunged. After expungement, the person is restored to the legal status they had before being taken into custody, and cannot be charged with perjury for not mentioning the matter.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.