Sealing of the Files

Although juvenile records are protected and can be shared only with limited entities, the law provides a mechanism to seal certain records to provide even greater protection. Sealing is similar to the adult concept of expunction, except that the records are not fully destroyed.

Juvenile records meeting the following criteria will qualify for the Courts to complete the sealing process on their behalf:

  • the juvenile must be at least 19-years-old
  • no felony adjudications
  • no pending cases, juvenile or adult
  • no adult convictions of a jailable misdemeanor or felony offense(s)

If the juvenile meets the above criteria, the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department will prepare a sealing order for the juveniles referral(s) and submit it to the Court on the juveniles behalf.  Once the sealing order has been signed by the assigned Court, the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department, prosecutor, law enforcement entity, and public or private agency having custody of or providing supervision or services to juvenile will seal all records relating to the juvenile.

If the juvenile does not meet the criteria for the juvenile Court to complete the sealing process, the juvenile may complete the sealing process on their own behalf.  The following information will be needed to complete the sealing process:

  • referral date
  • offense(s) (including the offense code)
  • date of offense
  • referring agency
  • case number
  • level of offense(s) – misdemeanor or felony
  • disposition and disposition date
  • the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department’s PID number
  • SID number from DPS
  • TRN number from DPS
  • Fort Bend County cause number and Court assigned (if applicable)
  • names and addresses of each agency sealing order must be sent to

 

The above information may be requested in the following manners:

  • in person at the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department 122 Golfview Drive Richmond, Texas
  • by fax 832-471-1854
  • by e-mail juvrecords@fortbendcountytx.gov

For the juvenile to receive sealing information, a records request must be accompanied by the records request form as well as a copy of a valid picture identification.  Notation that the information is for sealing purposes MUST be written on the request form.  Once identity is confirmed, necessary information for sealing purposes will be released.

Example applications and court orders may be found on the Juvenile Law website:  https://juvenilelaw.org/resources/forms/

The impacts of a juvenile record being sealed are as follows:

  • The juvenile is not required to state in any proceeding or application for employment, licensing, admission, housing, or other public or private benefit that he or she was ever a party to a proceeding in the juvenile system.
  • All entities receiving a sealing order must reply “no record exists” in response to an inquiry in any matter.
  • The adjudication is vacated and the proceeding is dismissed and treated as if it had never occurred, unless the record is later unsealed as allowed by law.
  • The information in the record, the fact that the records once existed or the person’s denial of the existence of the records or the person’s involvement in a juvenile matter may not be used against the person in any manner, including in a perjury prosecution or other criminal proceeding, a civil proceeding (including an administrative proceeding involving a governmental entity), an application process for licensing or certification, or an admission, employment, or housing decision.

Additional information regarding sealing of the files can be found on the Sealing of Files (English)  and  Sealing of Files (Spanish)  pamphlets