Yes. Rhode Island juvenile records can be expunged after the juvenile turns 18, provided no further criminal involvement occurred between the original case and the expungement petition. Juvenile expungement is generally more accessible than adult expungement and has shorter waiting periods. The records were already confidential during the juvenile case, but expungement provides additional protection by destroying the records entirely. For juveniles whose cases were transferred to adult court, the standard adult expungement rules apply (5 years misdemeanor, 10 years felony). Filing for juvenile expungement after 18 is one of the most important steps for protecting young adults' futures from past mistakes.
