What are Oklahoma Juvenile Court Records?

Oklahoma juvenile files are official legal documents that contain the details of cases involving children or adolescents. Juvenile files are confidential and inaccessible to the public. However, Oklahoma courts do not delete juvenile records unless there is a request for expungement. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation manages juvenile court records in Oklahoma.

What Information is Contained in a Oklahoma Juvenile Record?

Details included in Oklahoma juvenile files are;

• The name of the minor
• The minor’s date of birth
• Physical descriptions
• Summons
• Answers
• Motions
• Pleadings
• Exhibits and materials provided as exhibits (either collected in evidence or not)
• Summary of the crime
• Details of the arrest
• Details of the conviction
• Disposition
• Supporting documentation
• Order and verdict of the court

According to 10A OK Stat § 10A–2–6–102v1 (2014), Oklahoma juvenile documents are only available for public inspection to persons with a court order. However, individuals such as the judge, court employees, staff of juvenile bureaus, and other government officials can retrieve juvenile case files without a court order.

What Cases are Heard by Oklahoma Juvenile Courts?

The State of Oklahoma Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over all cases pertaining to children/youths. Lawsuits presented before the juvenile court are;

• Abuse
• Public intoxication
• Traffic Violations
• Driving under the influence
• Adoption
• Neglect
• Larceny
• Prostitution
• Robbery
• False rumors or slander
• Aggravated Assault
• Stalking
• Arson
• Assault and battery
• Unlawful Assembly
• Burglary
• Rape
• Theft
• Simple drug possession

Who is Eligible to View Juvenile Records in Oklahoma?

Although the Oklahoma Open Records Act states that all court records should be available to the public, details of juvenile proceedings are not available for public inspection. Crimes committed by juveniles are not disclosed to help the child’s rehabilitation and to avoid criminal conviction stigma when the child is released. Hence, there is a limit to the people who can access juvenile records in Oklahoma upon request, which include;

• The minor’s attorney
• Legal guardian/parents of the youth
• Juvenile court personnel
• The staff of government parastatals that deal with juveniles

However, in rare cases where the victim’s interests and the public’s right to know are more than the minor’s right to privacy, the court will give members access to the records.

How to Find Juvenile Records in Oklahoma

Persons interested in obtaining juvenile records need to make inquiries on the court’s procedure where the case was handled, as the procedure may vary between courts. Nevertheless, eligible persons can request a juvenile file by completing the Criminal History Record Information form by the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation. Query the department via mail, by fax (405–879–2503), or in person. The mailing address is

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation

6600 N. Harvey

Oklahoma City, OK 73116

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

Can you Lookup Oklahoma Juvenile Records Online?

Yes, Oklahoma juvenile court records are available online for free. The Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN) gives eligible persons access to juvenile records. Qualified parties can;

• Visit the OSCN website, navigate and click on the access court records.
• Click on search dockets in the brown rectangle area.
• Click the option to find free Oklahoma court records and criminal records.
• Type in the first and last name of the delinquent.
• Enter other information available or leave the space blank and click search.
• Click the blue case number to review the preferred case.

Interested persons can also visit The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), which published a state-by-state directory online for people to make copies or view juvenile records.

Do Oklahoma Juvenile Records Show up on Background Checks?

Yes, Juvenile records come up on background checks in Oklahoma. If the crime committed would be considered a felony if an adult was charged with it, the document will not be restricted.

To conduct an official background check, persons must go through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Most employers use driving, criminal, educational, and financial public records while hiring, and the state does not restrict it. These official checks are conducted by landlords, employers, and financial organizations. To prevent a juvenile record from showing up on background checks, the offender must expunge the record. To expunge a juvenile record in Oklahoma;

• The offender must be 21 years of age or older.
• The juvenile must have no other criminal offense or charge, and there are no pending indictments filed at the time of the expungement.
• The young individual must not be subject to any deferred sentence.
• The juvenile must have paid and completed all court fines, costs, restitution, and other requirements for the juvenile proceedings.

After filing a petition for expungement of the juvenile record, the court will set a hearing date and give a 30 days notice to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, the district attorney, and other agencies or individuals with relevant data related to the expungement of a record.

How Long are Juvenile Records Kept in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma juvenile files remain until the bearer files a petition to expunge the record. After a record is expunged, the offender can deny ever having a court record. To proceed with an expungement, the offender will file a petition in the district court where the case was heard, following §10A–2–6–109(A). To expunge a record, the offender must be able to;

• Pay a $15 fee to get the OSBI Criminal History Report.
• Pay an additional $150 fee to record the final court order.

For the expungement process to go smoothly, getting an attorney to help with filing the petition is better.

The normal timeframe for expungement is about five months, but it may take longer in some situations. During a juvenile court case, the charges listed in the disposition will determine if the record can be expunged.