PHOENIX — Thousands of people in Maricopa County who were convicted of crimes before they turned 18 may be eligible to have their records expunged, according to a Valley judge.

“Juvenile court is all about rehabilitation,” Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Lori Bustamante said on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Tuesday. “People do make mistakes when they’re young and they should have the opportunity to be able to remove any barriers that may be there as a result.”

The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County offers people the chance to have juvenile court convictions removed from their records through “Project Restore: My Record, My Rights,” which started in 2023.

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