A Guide to Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Court Involvement in New York

This guide is meant to help young people in New York understand the collateral consequences to juvenile court involvement and adjudications, and what they can do to overcome those consequences. Written in youth-friendly language, this guide walks through how young people should talk about their juvenile court record and the impact of their record on school, jobs, military involvement, public benefits, and housing. This guide also shares guidance on how young people in New York can ask for their juvenile court record to be sealed or expunged.

From the introduction: “This guide was created to give you helpful information about how your juvenile court record might impact you as you move forward in your life. If you have ever been arrested under the age of 18, the police and court may create a file about you, which is part of your “juvenile record.” Having a juvenile record can impact your life in different ways even after you are no longer involved in the legal system. Understanding some of the challenges and barriers created by your record is important so you can move ahead with your plans for the future. The road forward might be met with challenges—but we hope this guide will show you that progress can be made, and there is a community of advocates in New York who are here to help you reach your goals.”