Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in West Virginia
How juvenile records are sealed or expunged in West Virginia, and whether it happens automatically.
Short answer: One year after the person's 18th birthday, or one year after juvenile court jurisdiction ends (whichever is later), juvenile proceeding records, including law-enforcement files, may be kept in a separate, secure, confidential file. W. Va. Code §§ 49-5-104, 49-4-723
| Juvenile records | One year after the person's 18th birthday, or one year after juvenile court jurisdiction ends (whichever is later), juvenile proceeding records, including law-enforcement files, may be kept in a separate, secure, confidential file. They can be inspected only by circuit court order. Marking the records confidential has the legal effect of extinguishing the offense as if it never occurred. This does not apply when a juvenile was transferred to adult court and convicted there. Discriminating against someone in employment, housing, education, credit or contracts because of expunged juvenile proceedings is prohibited and can lead to penalties and damages. |
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Where to get help in West Virginia
More West Virginia expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your West Virginia Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in West Virginia
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in West Virginia
- How to File for Expungement in West Virginia
- All West Virginia expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do you seal a juvenile record in West Virginia?
One year after the person's 18th birthday, or one year after juvenile court jurisdiction ends (whichever is later), juvenile proceeding records, including law-enforcement files, may be kept in a separate, secure, confidential file. They can be inspected only by circuit court order. Marking the records confidential has the legal effect of extinguishing the offense as if it never occurred. This does not apply when a juvenile was transferred to adult court and convicted there. Discriminating against someone in employment, housing, education, credit or contracts because of expunged juvenile proceedings is prohibited and can lead to penalties and damages.
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.