Department :: Youth Services

Expunction FAQs

Q. How do I know if I am eligible to have my juvenile record expunged?
A. Contact our office. We will look up your juvenile record and tell you if you are eligible. You may not be eligible if you have a Felony or Class A Misdemeanor conviction as an adult or if it has been less than five years since you were on probation as a juvenile.

Q. How Do I go about getting my juvenile record expunged?
A. First of all, read the explanation of rights to record expunction. Then fill out the expunction application and bring it into our office with photo identification. We will then type a Motion for Record Expunction to be filed with the Wasco County Circuit Court.

Q. What is the expunction process?
A. After the Motion for Record Expunction is filed with the Circuit Court, we will notify the District Attorney's Office of your request for expunction of your juvenile record and will perform a criminal history check which will show any adjudications or convictions. The District Attorney and the Director of the Juvenile Department will approve or deny the request for expunction. If approved, an Order is typed and signed by the Judge. This Order is then sent to all agencies listed on your application and is returned to our office within 21 days. Once all Orders are returned from the agencies and they have sealed or destroyed their records, our office destroys your file and removes you from the state computer database. You will be notified through a letter from the Wasco County Circuit Court that your juvenile record has been expunged.

Q. What if expunction is denied?
A. You have the right to request a court hearing.

Q. What if I have juvenile records in more than one State?
A. You will need to apply for expunction in both states. We can only expunge Oregon records.

Q. I reside in Wasco County now and would like to have my juvenile record expunged from another County. Can I do that through your office?
A. No. You must go through the juvenile department in the County that had jurisdiction at that time.

Q. Will traffic tickets or violations that I received as a juvenile be expunged? Will my DMV record be expunged if I got an MIP and had my license suspended?
A. No. DMV records are not expungable.

Q. Will an outstanding traffic ticket prevent me from getting my record exunged?
A. No, citations and violations will not count against you. Only Class A Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent you from getting your record expunged.

Q. What does adjudication mean?
A. You are adjudicated when you are made a ward of the court. This includes being placed on formal probation to the juvenile department for any reason. You were not adjudicated if you completed a Formal Accountability Agreement (FAA) with our office and did not go to court, or if you went to court but were placed on a Fact Sufficient diversion and were not found within the jurisdictoin of the court.

Q. Does it cost anything to get my record expunged?
A. No. You just need to have patience. This is not an overnight process and may take up to 8 weeks to complete.