How Do I Seal My Juvenile Record in Nevada?
Nevada law generally gives young people a fresh start by automatically sealing most juvenile records. Under current law, the process usually occurs at age 18—not age 21, as older sources may state.
When are Nevada juvenile records sealed automatically?
Most juvenile records must be sealed automatically within 60 days after the person turns 18. If the juvenile court or another agency still has jurisdiction when the person turns 18, the records must generally be sealed within 60 days after that jurisdiction ends. NRS 62H.140
Automatic sealing means the person ordinarily does not need to file a petition. The law directs the court and other public agencies to seal qualifying records on their own.
Which juvenile records are subject to different rules?
Certain serious adjudications are not automatically sealed under the ordinary age-18 rule. These include:
- Sexual assault;
- Battery with intent to commit sexual assault;
- Lewdness with a child; and
- A felony-level act involving the use or threatened use of force or violence.
If these records were not sealed before the person turned 21, the person generally must wait until age 30 to petition for sealing. The court may grant the petition if the person has not been convicted of another offense since turning 21, apart from minor moving or standing traffic violations. NRS 62H.150
Can I petition to seal my record earlier?
In some cases, a person under 21—or a probation or parole officer acting for that person—may petition the juvenile court for an earlier seal. The petition generally cannot be filed until at least three years after the person was last adjudicated delinquent, adjudicated in need of supervision, or placed under qualifying juvenile-court supervision.
There must also be no pending delinquency or criminal charges. The court considers whether the person has been rehabilitated and whether the person avoided any felony conviction or misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude during the applicable period. Relevant factors may include the person’s conduct, education, employment, treatment history, role in the original offense, and whether sealing would serve the interests of the person and the State. NRS 62H.130
What happens after a juvenile record is sealed?
Once the record is sealed, the proceedings described in it are generally treated as though they never occurred. The person may ordinarily deny the proceedings when asked about them, including on many employment, housing, and educational applications. However, Nevada law permits limited inspection of sealed records in specified circumstances. NRS 62H.170
Can a juvenile record be expunged?
A person who is at least 18 may petition to expunge records involving conduct that would have been a misdemeanor if committed by an adult, as well as certain “child in need of supervision” matters. If the juvenile court finds that the person has been rehabilitated, it must order eligible records expunged. Unlike sealing, expungement requires the appropriate agencies to destroy the covered records. NRS 62H.180
Because eligibility depends on the offense, age, continuing jurisdiction, and later history, a Nevada juvenile defense attorney can determine whether a record should be sealed automatically or whether a petition for sealing or expungement is appropriate.
Additional Resources:
- Sealing criminal records for adults in Nevada: Our informational article on sealing criminal records for adults in Nevada.
- Sealing juvenile records in California: Our L.A. criminal defense lawyers explain the process for sealing juvenile records in California.
- Nevada Juvenile Justice Services: This division provides facilities, programming, parole supervision, and case-management services for youth committed to DCFS by Nevada juvenile courts.
- Nevada Child Welfare Services: This branch of Nevada’s Division of Child and Family Services helps assess children’s needs with regard to shelter, foster care, counseling and other services.
