If a juvenile is detained by the police but no charges were filed, is there a police record?
If you were detained by police and they took your name and address, but no charges were ever filed, it's possible that you might have a record that needs to get sealed. What you need to do now depends on what the police did with your name and address, the nature of the offense, and your state’s laws regarding juvenile records. If you were involved in illegal conduct that wasn’t that serious, like being out after local curfew hours, officers will sometimes write your name and address down so they can go have a talk with your parents. If the only place they ever recorded your name and address was on the notepad in their pocket, you won’t have a record.
Before you start jumping through hoops to seal your "police record," first find out if you even have one. For a nominal fee, many sheriff offices will run a comprehensive criminal background for you. Make sure you request a complete criminal history, not just a local history. If your contact with the police officer shows up on a local or state criminal history report, the police officer probably wrote a summary regarding their prior contact with you.
If a report does exist, the nature of the charges can influence whether or not you can get your records sealed in juvenile court. If the offense listed is a minor offense and the statute of limitations has run out, getting your police records sealed will be easier. If the listed offense is a major offense, and the case is still open, you will have a harder time getting the record sealed.
Regardless of the type of case, you should still try to get the police report sealed even if charges were never filed in juvenile court. If you are considering entering the military, even a pending juvenile offense can impact your entry. The procedures for sealing or expunging your records will depend on the laws in your state. To find out the timeline and procedures for sealing police records, consult with a criminal defense attorney that practices in your state.
