Some people believe that a person_s criminal record should be removed when they reach the age of 18. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some argue that erasing an individual_s criminal record once they reach legal age is the right thing to do.

essay partially agrees with that opinion and believes that

a

should be given a clean slate upon reaching adulthood, depending on the severity of the crime.

, in the case of serious offences,

should not be done.

Minors who have committed petty crimes

as shoplifting or vandalism should be entitled to a clean record once they become adults. Adolescents often lack maturity and discipline, which is why they sometimes make mistakes that they regret later in

. These mistakes should not be held against them forever as it prevents them from having a better quality of

. Even a tiny black mark on a

_s criminal record can stop them from getting admitted in a reputed college or firm, which is extremely unfair to them.

, a survey conducted by Queen_s University found, that 61% of individuals who committed minor offences when they were young, were not offered white-collar jobs.

, if the offence is serious, like rape or murder, a

_s criminal history should always be maintained. Felonies committed by juveniles that are a threat to, or result in the loss of, human

should always be on the records. These offences are far too grave, and

, authorities shouldn_t risk erasing them from their database as it could assist in solving crimes that might be done by them in the future. To illustrate, according to Wikipedia, in more than 700 murder cases, police officials referenced the convict_s rap sheet as a starting point for their investigation in the year 2009.

In conclusion, a

_s rap sheet should be free of past charges once they become adults, in the case of petty crimes to give them a fair shot at building a good

for themselves, but not for serious felonies.