Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What happens if a juvenile is found not guilty of a violent felony?

1. Their record is automatically expunged

2. Their fingerprints and photographs are cleared

3. Their details remain for future reference

4. They may appeal for record deletion

The correct answer is: Their details remain for future reference

When a juvenile is found not guilty of a violent felony, their details are typically retained for future reference. This means that even though they have not been convicted, the records of the arrest and the case may still exist within the legal and law enforcement systems. Juvenile justice systems often prioritize rehabilitation over punishment, but they do retain some level of documentation regarding cases, including those resulting in a not guilty verdict. While different jurisdictions may have specific rules on how records are handled, the general principle is that a not guilty verdict does not automatically lead to expungement or removal of the details, which explains why their information might still be available in certain contexts. This is crucial for future considerations by law enforcement or for potential involvement in other legal proceedings. In contrast, options involving automatic expungement or the clearing of fingerprints and photographs do not typically apply when a juvenile is found not guilty; those usually involve specific processes or conditions that must be met after a charge, conviction, or other legal outcomes. The notion of appealing for record deletion is also less relevant, as a not guilty verdict does not inherently guarantee a path to deletion, since the records from a legal perspective may still hold significance, even if the juvenile was acquitted.