Which statement best describes the court's duty regarding expunction information for parents and minors?

• A. The court is not required to inform them.
• B. The court must inform only if the offense was a Penal Code offense.
• C. The court is required to tell the parent and the child of his or her right to expunge a conviction and to give them a copy of the expunction statute.
• D. The court must inform only the parent, not the child.

Answer: (C)

Courts have a duty to inform both the parent and the minor about the right to expunge a conviction and to provide them with a copy of the expunction statute. This ensures the family understands how expunction works and what steps to take to pursue it, which can have long-term implications for privacy and opportunities. The requirement isn’t limited to certain offenses or limited to one party; it protects the minor’s right to know and the parent’s role in guidance and consent. Providing only one party with information or omitting the statute would leave the other uninformed and could impede the expunction process.