Three young offenders have seen their criminal records wiped clean as part of an ongoing pilot program to help them get their lives back on track.

Judges in western Mentougou district have approved five of 13 applications received from juveniles convicted of minor crimes since last October.

One more is pending due to further consideration, while another was revoked after the appellant was caught stealing on probation.

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"The innovation aims to reduce the psychological pressure on young people and their families," said Hu Yu, director of the district's minor court.

The decision to erase criminal records came after two years of research into cases involving about 150 young offenders. To qualify for the program, offenders must have been under 18 at the time of the crime and sentenced to no more than five years in detention. They must show remorse and stay out of trouble while on probation.

More than 30 candidates were urged to apply through phone calls, e-mails, express mail services and personal visits. Since October, judges also informed defendants during court sessions.

Written applications are submitted for review and receive a reply within seven days. If successful, all criminal convictions are cleared.

Mentougou's minor court has tried 153 young offenders since it opened in 1999, Beijing News reported. Hu said more than 80 percent were sentenced to less than five years, with very few "major criminals".

However, criminal records can have a great impact on a young person's schooling, employment and even marriage.

Prosecution authorities are among those who have applauded the initiative. "I agree with the move," said Yang Xin'e, who is in charge of youth prosecutions at Haidian district people's procuratorate, who also emphasized the importance families play in helping ex-convicts to re-enter society.

According to a study involving more than 100 cases handled by Haidian district procuratorate in 2009 and 2010, most young offenders come from single-parent or disadvantaged homes. The authority has held lectures for parents to offer tips on better family relationships since 2008.

Offenders whose records are cleanedare still considered repeat offenders if they break the law in the future and face severe punishment.

"We're making progress and the direction is right," said Hu. "The removal of these criminal records requires the cooperation of more departments across the country and the support of the whole society."