New Jersey: Juvenile Court Records (NJ-AR-12)

Records related to more than one but less than five adjudications that would have constituted disorderly or petty disorderly persons offenses if committed by an adult, can be expunged upon petition so long as the person is not subject to a disqualifying event and at least three but less than five years have elapsed from the most recent adjudication, payment of fine, completion of probation, or release from commitment, whichever is later, and the person has not been otherwise convicted of a crime, disorderly persons offense, or petty disorderly persons offense since the time of the most recent conviction, and the court finds in its discretion that compelling circumstances exist to grant the expungement N.J. Stat. § 2C:52-3(b), (b)(2).

Record Detail(s)

Charges adjudicated

Previous Conviction Disqualifying

No statutory language

Mandatory / Discretionary

Discretionary

Hearing

Yes, if objection filed

Clearance Process

Petition-based

Remedy

Expunge

Ineligible Category or Citation

Previous criminal conviction or disorderly person offense. See N.J. Stat. § 2C:52-3(b)(2).

Procedure General

A petition must be filed with the court in the county of adjudication. For the specific procedure, see N.J. Stat. § 2C:52-3, 2C:52-7 et seq.

Fees

Payment of fees is not required. N.J. Stat. § 2C:52-29.

Effect

Expungement means the extraction and isolation of all records on file within any court, detention or correctional facility, or law enforcement or criminal justice agency concerning a person's detection, apprehension, arrest, detention, trial, or disposition of an offense within the criminal justice system. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:52-1. If an order of expungement is granted, the arrest, conviction, and any related proceedings will be deemed not to have occurred, and the petitioner can answer any questions relating to their occurrence accordingly except in the circumstances specified in section 2C:52-27.

Forms

There is no statutory language on forms.

Waiting Periods

There is a 3- to 5-year waiting period.

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