When it comes to expunging a juvenile record in Utah, there is a set procedure that you have to follow. However, it is important for you to keep in mind that not all states have such provisions. Though the majority of states (including Utah) allow expunging of juvenile crime records by a certain age, there are still a few states that do not allow it. The process where the records are made hidden from the public (such as by directly sealing them or permanently erasing them) is referred to as expunging. The exact process may also vary depending upon the state the cases belong to. The most important thing to understand is that just because there are specific provisions for expunging such records in the state of Utah, it does not mean that the process is an automatic one. If you want to get the record expunged, you will have to initiate and complete the process by following a set proceeded. Following is a brief rundown on how to go about it.
Contact The Utah Department Of Public Safety
The first thing that the process of expunging a juvenile record in Utah requires you to do is to contact the Utah Department of Public Safety and obtain a petition form to expunge juvenile crime records. An easy way to do this is to visit the official website of the Utah Department of Public Safety and download the form directly on your computer. After filling out the form as per the instructions provided with the same, you must also properly sign and date the same.
Qualifying Criteria
There are also certain qualifying criteria that you must meet in order to be able to file the petition for expunging a juvenile record in Utah. In general, twelve months of time must have passed by now since the termination of the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court or since your release. Besides that, you must be currently at least eighteen years old. However, despite you meet these basic requirements, if certain other factors are involved in your case, you may still not be able to file your petition. Some of those factors include, but are not limited to, the conviction was for a crime as an adult involving moral turpitude, the conviction was for murder, restitution has not yet been paid, and adult charges are still pending against you.
Obtain A Criminal History Report Form
When it comes to filing a petition for expunging a juvenile record in Utah, the next thing you have to do is to contact the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification and obtain a Criminal History Report form from them. You can again download the form directly from the official website of the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. You will find an “Application for Criminal History” link out there; you just have to click on that link to download the form. Visit your local police station once you fill this form properly so that they can help you get your fingerprints applied to the report. There is a specific amount of fee that you will be charged for this specific part of process. At present, the fee is $15.
File The Petition
You will have to file your petition for expunging a juvenile record in Utah with the Juvenile Court where you were originally convicted. Do not forget to attach the original Criminal History Report to the petition.
Mail A Copy To The Prosecutor’s Office
After your submitting your petition, you are also required to send a copy of the history report and the petition to the office of the prosecutor who had handled your case.
Hearing Date Will Be Issued
After thoroughly reviewing your petition, the court will issue a hearing date and send a notice regarding the same to all parties, including the victim, relevant government agencies, the prosecutor’s office, and you. If some other parties, such as witnesses, have also requested for the notice, they will also get the same. The court allows other parties to testify during the hearing.
After listening to all the parties during the hearing, the court will take a final decision whether your petition for expunging a juvenile record in Utah should be approved or rejected.