Turning 18

Contrary to what you may have heard, your youth record is not automatically closed when you turn 18. It depends on the nature of the crime, your sentence and if you have since committed other crimes.

The time when your youth record is open is called the access period. This means your record is accessible to the police, courts and others who are allowed access specified by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

If you commit other crimes after you have received a youth record, your record for the previous crime(s) will stay open longer. If you commit other crimes during the access period and are over 18, your youth record becomes part of your adult record. This will be a permanent criminal record and may be publicly accessible.

Adult Criminal Records

For information about adult criminal records, see:

• Criminal Records (How the Criminal Justice System Works)
• Your Criminal Record (Adult Offender)
• Legal Assistance (Services and Resources)