North Carolina: Juvenile Court Records and Law Enforcement Records (NC-AR-2)

A record relating to an adjudication can be expunged by the court once the juvenile reaches age 18. N.C. Gen. Stat. §7B-3200(b).

Record Detail(s)

Charges adjudicated

Previous Conviction Disqualifying

No statutory language

Mandatory / Discretionary

Discretionary

Clearance Process

Varies

Remedy

Expunge

Ineligible Category or Citation

The offense cannot have been a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3200(b)(1).

Procedure General

The petition must be filed in the court where the person was adjudicated delinquent and must include the specified affidavits and statement. For the specific procedure, see N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3200.

Fees

There is no statutory language regarding fees.

Effect

The court shall order the clerk and the appropriate law enforcement agencies to expunge their records of the allegations of delinquent or undisciplined acts including all references to arrests, complaints, referrals, juvenile petitions, and orders. The clerk shall forward a certified copy of the order of expunction to the sheriff, chief of police, or other appropriate law enforcement agency, and to the chief court counselor, and these specified officials shall immediately destroy all records relating to the allegations that the juvenile was delinquent or undisciplined. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3200(h).

Forms

For an application to expunge a record in North Carolina, visit here.

Waiting Periods

The person must be 18 years old and at least 18 months must have elapsed since the person was released from juvenile court jurisdiction. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3200(b)(2). The petition can be filed upon the person turning 18 years old, if at least 18 months have elapsed since release from juvenile court jurisdiction. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3200(b)(2).

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