We hear of teens being arrested in Denver and other places in Colorado all of the time. Sometimes children get in with the wrong crowd, are in the wrong place, or don't feel they have the support of one of their role models. This can lead them to do things that they would later regret. They might have difficulty understanding the difference between harmless fun and unlawful behavior.

When a young person is arrested, their parents might be called to the police station, and the child is taken home, with no understanding that the incident is considered an arrest. This happened to one girl in another state, and could happen in Denver. The girl is now well into adulthood and has made her way through nursing school. When she passed her boards and applied for her nursing license, she discovered she was prohibited from practicing nursing because of a battery charge in the eighth grade.

There was no admission of guilt and no trial. These situations can shock a person as they become an adult and make a path in life, only to be broadsided by unlawful activity that they may have committed as a child. This might seem unfair to many people. While they may have gotten into some trouble as a child, they have turned their behavior around and are prepared to be positive members of society.

Sometimes expungement or sealing of records can help people move on from their past and avoid difficulties with their careers. The ability to have records sealed usually depends on the nature of the crime and the period of time that has passed since a conviction.

Source: WBEZ, "Why is it so hard to expunge juvenile records in Cook County," Linda Paul, Feb. 4, 2013

-Our law firm handles expungement cases in Denver. Please visit our website to learn more.