Sealing A Juvenile Record

A person may petition to expunge their juvenile record, the court and police records of a child alleged or adjudicated delinquent or in need of supervision, in the court where the petition or citation was filed. The petition is served on listed victims, family members of victims who attended the adjudication, and the State's Attorney. The court may order the record expunged only if every one of the conditions below is met.

• Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-27.1

• The State's Attorney entered a nolle prosequi, the petition was dismissed, the allegations were not found true, the adjudicatory hearing was not held within 2 years, or the court made a disposition finding.
• The person has attained 18 years and at least 2 years have passed since the last official action in the record.
• The person has not been adjudicated delinquent more than once, has no later conviction, and has nothing pending.
• The adjudication was not for an offense the section excludes, such as a crime of violence.

• Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-27.1

Adult records, federal agencies' own files, immigration consequences, and sex offender registration are outside this page. Whether a particular record qualifies, and what a sealed record still allows an agency to see, are questions for a licensed Maryland attorney.

• Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-27.1