Juvenile Law Center

Juvenile Records

Getting a Job with a Juvenile Record in Pennsylvania

If you were arrested or charged with a juvenile offense and adjudicated delinquent, you may have a juvenile record that employers can see. Some juveniles (those charged with more serious offenses) have records that anyone, including employers, can see.

If you had your record expunged, you should check to see if it was removed by contacting the Pennsylvania State Police Registry.

A criminal conviction is not the same as a juvenile adjudication of delinquency. So, if an application asks if you were ever “convicted of a crime” you can answer “no” if you were only ever adjudicated delinquent. See the chart below for more. The law says that an employer can only consider an adjudication or conviction if it relates to whether you are fit for the position you are applying for. For example, they can refuse to hire you as a pizza delivery person if you had an adjudication for a drunk driving offense.

	Application asks: Have you ever been convicted of a crime?	Application asks: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?	Application asks: Have you ever been adjudicated delinquent?	Application asks: Have you ever been convicted of a crime or adjudicated delinquent?	Application asks: Have you ever had a juvenile or criminal record, even if your record was expunged?
You have never been adjudicated delinquent or convicted of a criminal offense	Must answer NO	Must answer NO	Must answer NO	Must answer NO	Must answer NO
You were adjudicated delinquent	Can answer NO	Can answer NO	Must answer YES	Must answer YES	Must answer YES
You were adjudicated delinquent for an offense that would have been a felony if committed by an adult	Can answer NO	Can answer NO	Must answer YES	Must answer YES	Must answer YES
You were convicted of an adult criminal offense and adjudicated delinquent	Must answer YES	Must answer YES (if felony)	Must answer YES	Must answer YES	Must answer YES
You were adjudicated delinquent but you had your record expunged	Can answer NO	Can answer NO	Can answer NO	Can answer NO	Must answer YES