# Who can see my sealed record? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671 "2007-08-06T21:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/1 "2007-08-06T21:23:46Z")
I have a conviction on my record, for which I was granted youthful offender status. The records were sealed but not expunged. Who can see these records? I am looking at applying for a pharmacy tech position (this conviction is related. it isn’t hard to guess), and want to know if they will have access to this. Also, who else has special access to sealed records? I live in Alabama, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![billyb0b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@billyb0b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billyb0b)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/2 "2007-08-06T23:42:38Z")
**ForumBot** , IANAL, nor am I in AL, but I _am_ an Air Force recruiter in TN. If you give someone permission to see your background (like you typically would for a government job), odds are they will see your youthful indescretion. On a typical day here, I run 2-3 background checks. I take the required forms to the court house and they give me the records (if something has been expunged, it shows up on the computer screen with the word “EXPUNGED” next to it. After getting the records from the court, I go to the charging agency, i.e., police. I present them the required forms, then they print out the records. WARNING: Anecdote Most times, I see a record from the court come back saying “Youthful Offender” and the local police record has the original charge. Occassionally, I have to do another, different request to get the original charge. _Seldom_ do they not give out the original charge. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/3 "2007-08-07T06:19:07Z")
Alabama Code, Title 15: Criminal Procedure, Chapter 19: Youthful Offenders > [@](#): > > **Section 15-19-7: Effect of determination; records not open to public inspection; exception.** > > (a) No determination made under the provisions of this chapter shall disqualify any youth for public office or public employment, operate as a forfeiture of any right or privilege or make him ineligible to receive any license granted by public authority, and such determination shall not be deemed a conviction of crime; provided, however, that if he is subsequently convicted of crime, the prior adjudication as youthful offender shall be considered. > > (b) The fingerprints and photographs and other records of a person adjudged a youthful offender shall not be open to public inspection; provided, however, that the court may, in its discretion, permit the inspection of papers or records. ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/4 "2007-08-07T06:36:53Z")
Woo-hoo! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/5 "2007-08-07T07:07:42Z")
Is there some kind of pardon-request thing you can pursue to get the record… well, not expunged, but at least mitigated in some way? ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/6 "2007-08-07T14:31:52Z")
I think sealed is the next best thing to being expunged. What did you have in mind? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-see-my-sealed-record/414671/7 "2007-08-07T18:27:48Z")
[QUOTE=ForumBot] I think sealed is the next best thing to being expunged. What did you have in mind? [/QUOTE] Well, I see advertisements for “pardon services”, i.e. how to fill out the government forms to request pardons for past criminal offenses. I’d assume you’d have to express acceptable remorse and demonstrate you’ve been law-abiding and productive since. I hadn’t previously thought about applying it to a juvie record, but now I’m curious. Why not give your local courthouse a call?