if they continue to commit crimes then they should be punished accordingly. you can't keep slapping their hands if they never learn. but if they do change their life around time should be considered if allowed to be accessible and usable. one exception in the case of crimes against children. no child should ever be in danger just to protect the offender.

Bad idea. How can anyone reform and be 'redeemed' if they continually have a criminal record held against them? Agreed, if it is a continual criminal record or a major crime like murder then that can be understood, but what is a penetentiary for other than to retrain criminals (or should be)?

Uh, I strongly dislike this idea. ))))))))))))))))))))UPDATE: 'Souljunkie' is exactly right. Think if you were a mature, law abiding citizen at 35, and could not be considered for a particular job because you got busted with a bong when you were 16 or 17.

For felonies only. I tend to think that kids who comitt these type of crimes do need to be watched closer. They are obviously a higher risk down the road than the kid who was smoking reefer behind the school at 16. (this is my own personal story, the cops threw us a scare made us throw away our stash and paraphenalia and sent us home..1975). My only run in with the law other than traffic violations. LOL.

I agree with this full-heartedly. I have first-hand experience in this area, and it is an issue I disagree with. The feeling by the gov't is to give these kids a fresh start/a clean slate when they enter the adult world. It's wrong. Unfortunately, these juvenile offenders rarely change their stripes. In fact, they manipulate this advantage that they full well know they have as juvenile offenders. They know they can commit crimes and have their record wiped clean. That's why too many of them re-commit while they are still under the age of 21. It's not right.

People change and obviously mature with age. Young people make mistakes and should have an opportunity to start over with a clean slate after they have proven themselves over time. A kid breaks into his high school and spray paints the walls and that follows them the rest of his/her life, thats not reasonable.

I agree with Randyman.Felonies were what I was refering to.To me, 17 1/2 year olds are very dangerous,they know they can do quite alot of things and know a few months later their records will be expunged.

This is probably a good idea, with limits, and only with felonies. But many of us, including myself, have done stupid things in our lives when we were younger, learned our lessons and moved on. I would limit it to violent crimes only.