Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Juvenile Justice

HB 1212

Brief Description:  Sealing certain juvenile records.

Sponsors:  Representative Bush.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Allows a court to seal a person's juvenile record for misdemeanors and diversions if the person has been in the community for two consecutive years without being convicted of a crime and is at least 18 years old.

Allows a court to seal a person's juvenile record for gross misdemeanors if the person has been in the community for three consecutive years without being convicted of a crime and is at least 18 years old.

Hearing Date:  1/31/01

Staff:  Jean Ann Quinn (786‑7310).

Background: 

A juvenile adjudicated of an offense may petition the court to vacate its order and findings and seal the records when certain conditions are met.   A juvenile record for any offense may not be sealed until the offender has paid full restitution.  Any subsequent adjudication of a juvenile offense or subsequent charging of an adult felony nullifies a sealing order on the offender's juvenile records.

Juvenile records related to class A or sex offenses may not be sealed.  Juvenile records relating to class B offenses may be sealed if the offender has spent 10 years in the community without committing an offense.  Juvenile records relating to class C offenses may be sealed after the offender has spent five years in the community without committing an offense.   There is no provision in current law authorizing the court to seal juvenile records for diversions, misdemeanors, or gross misdemeanors.

Summary of Bill: 

A person's juvenile records for misdemeanors and diversions may be sealed if the person has spent two consecutive years after release from confinement, if any, or entry of the order of disposition, in the community without committing any offense or crime that subsequently results in conviction and is at least 18 years old.

A person's juvenile records for gross misdemeanors may be sealed if the person has spent three consecutive years after release from confinement, if any, or entry of the order of disposition, in the community without committing any offense or crime that subsequently results in conviction and is at least 18 years old.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.