14 years and older

Youth that are 14 years and older may be held at juvenile hall, may be charged with criminal offenses, and may be asked to participate in various programs run by the juvenile probation department.

Youth that are 14 years and older may also have their records sealed once they satisfy all of the requirements.

To qualify for Deferred Entry of Judgment, a juvenile diversion program, a youth must be at least 14 years old at the time of the plea, and the offense must be a felony.  (Welfare & Institutions Code § 790.)  Crimes that are determined to be serious and violent felonies, as defined by Welfare & Institutions Code § 707(b), would make a youth ineligible for DEJ and also render them ineligible for automatic sealing of their record under Welfare and Institutions Code § 786. However, youth with a 707(b) offense may be eligible to seal their records prior to the age of 18 if they have had their case reduced to a misdemeanor pursuant to PC §17(b), or had their case dismissed pursuant to WIC §782. If you have a 707(b) offense on your record and are seeking a dismissal and sealing or simply a sealing, talk to the juvenile probation department and/or your attorney to start the process.​