HB5017 - Juvenile Court Expungement Summary

• Person arrested, charged, or adjudicated delinquent before age 18 may petition court at any time for expungement of law enforcement and juvenile court records, with court ordering expungement upon termination of all proceedings.

• Automatic expungement by Department of State Police beginning 180 days after enactment for eligible offenses when person turns 18, no petition filed, and 6+ months elapsed without new arrests or charges.

• Court must order expungement in five circumstances: no petition filed after arrest, petition dismissed without delinquency finding, found not delinquent, successfully completed supervision under Section 5-615, or adjudicated for Class B/C misdemeanor or petty/business offense.

• Arresting agencies must notify minors released without petition filed of expungement rights; courts must provide expungement information packets and notify minors at age 18 or 21 of eligibility.

• Expunged records treated as if offense never occurred; employers cannot consider expunged records in hiring decisions and must include language stating applicants need not disclose expunged juvenile records.