State Expungement Laws
Every state has different rules for clearing criminal records.
Expungement laws vary significantly from state to state. Our team specializes in navigating the unique requirements of each state's process to help you clear your record efficiently and affordably.
California
Detailed Expungement & Record Clearing Information
California
Understanding California's Laws:
California offers "dismissal" under Penal Code 1203.4 (expungement), which releases defendant from penalties and disabilities of conviction. Does not erase record entirely but adds a note of dismissal.
Each state, including California, has unique statutes governing the expungement or sealing of criminal records. Factors such as the nature of the offense, the time elapsed, and your prior criminal history play a crucial role in determining eligibility.
For detailed eligibility criteria, waiting periods, and the specific application process in California, please refer to official state resources or consult with a legal professional. Our services can help guide you through this process.
Explore Other States
Find expungement information for other states across the U.S.
Alabama Expungement Info
Alabama allows for the expungement of certain misdemeanor and felony convictions after a waiting period and if specific conditions are met. Not all of...
Alaska Expungement Info
Alaska offers "set aside conviction" for certain offenses, which has a similar effect to expungement. Eligibility depends on the type of offense and c...
Arizona Expungement Info
Arizona allows individuals to apply to have their conviction "set aside." This does not erase the record but notes that the conviction has been set as...
Arkansas Expungement Info
Arkansas allows for the sealing of records for certain misdemeanors and felonies. This is often referred to as expungement. Governed by Act 1460 of 20...
Colorado Expungement Info
Colorado allows for the sealing of criminal records (convictions, arrests not charged, acquittals, dismissals). Process and eligibility vary. C.R.S. �...
Connecticut Expungement Info
Connecticut has an "Erasure of Criminal Records" process, often called expungement. Pardons can also lead to erasure. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a et seq.
Delaware Expungement Info
Delaware allows for mandatory and discretionary expungement for certain arrests and convictions. 11 Del. C. § 4371-4379.
Florida Expungement Info
Florida offers sealing and expungement. Sealing hides the record from public view but some agencies can still see it. Expungement (court-ordered destr...
Georgia Expungement Info
Georgia uses "Record Restriction" instead of traditional expungement/sealing for many adult criminal records. Some records are restricted automaticall...
Hawaii Expungement Info
Hawaii allows for expungement of non-conviction records and certain first-time drug offenses or other specific minor offenses after sentence completio...
Idaho Expungement Info
Idaho allows for "set aside" of convictions, similar to expungement, for certain offenses. Also, records of acquittals or dismissals can be sealed. Id...
Illinois Expungement Info
Illinois offers sealing and expungement. Expungement results in destruction of records. Sealing limits public access. Most misdemeanors and some felon...
Indiana Expungement Info
Indiana allows for expungement of arrest records and conviction records under specific conditions and waiting periods. IC 35-38-9.
Iowa Expungement Info
Iowa allows for expungement of certain dismissed charges, acquittals, and a limited number of specific deferred judgments or convictions. Iowa Code Ch...
Kansas Expungement Info
Kansas allows for expungement of certain arrest records and convictions after a waiting period. K.S.A. 22-4701 et seq., 21-6614.
Kentucky Expungement Info
Kentucky allows for expungement of dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain Class D felonies and misdemeanors. KRS Chapter 431.
Louisiana Expungement Info
Louisiana allows for expungement of arrests not resulting in conviction, and certain misdemeanor and felony convictions. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 971 et seq.
Maine Expungement Info
Maine has limited expungement, primarily for pardoned offenses or specific juvenile records. Some non-conviction records can be sealed.
Maryland Expungement Info
Maryland allows expungement for non-convictions, pardoned offenses, and a range of misdemeanors and some non-violent felonies. Md. Code, Criminal Proc...
Massachusetts Expungement Info
Massachusetts allows for sealing of conviction and non-conviction records. Expungement is very limited. M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A-C.
Michigan Expungement Info
Michigan has expanded its expungement laws ("set aside conviction"). Many misdemeanors and some felonies are eligible. MCL 780.621 et seq.
Minnesota Expungement Info
Minnesota allows for expungement (sealing) of records for non-convictions and many convictions. Minn. Stat. § 609A.
Mississippi Expungement Info
Mississippi allows expungement for certain first-offender misdemeanors and a limited number of non-violent felonies. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-71.
Missouri Expungement Info
Missouri allows for expungement of many arrests, misdemeanors, and some non-violent, non-sexual felonies. RSMo § 610.140.
Montana Expungement Info
Montana allows for expungement (deferral of imposition of sentence leading to dismissal, or record sealing) for certain offenses. MCA 46-18-204, 46-23...
Nebraska Expungement Info
Nebraska allows for convictions to be "set aside" and for sealing of arrest records not resulting in conviction. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2264, § 29-352...
Nevada Expungement Info
Nevada allows for sealing of criminal records for arrests and convictions after specified waiting periods. NRS Chapter 179.
New Hampshire Expungement Info
New Hampshire allows for "annulment" of arrest and conviction records. RSA 651:5.
New Jersey Expungement Info
New Jersey offers expungement for arrests not resulting in conviction, and many indictable offenses (felonies), disorderly persons offenses (misdemean...
New Mexico Expungement Info
New Mexico allows for expungement of non-conviction records and many conviction records under the Criminal Record Expungement Act. NMSA 1978, § 29-3A...
New York Expungement Info
New York offers record sealing for many convictions under CPL § 160.59 (and others like CPL § 160.50 for non-convictions, CPL § 160.55 for non-crim...
North Carolina Expungement Info
North Carolina allows for expunction of records for dismissals, acquittals, and certain first-time non-violent misdemeanor and felony convictions. G.S...
North Dakota Expungement Info
North Dakota allows for sealing of criminal records for certain offenses. N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-07.1, § 29-36-01 et seq.
Ohio Expungement Info
Ohio allows for "sealing of record of conviction" or "expungement" (for non-conviction records). Ohio R.C. 2953.31 et seq.
Oklahoma Expungement Info
Oklahoma allows for expungement of records for non-convictions, deferred sentences, and certain misdemeanor and non-violent felony convictions. 22 O.S...
Oregon Expungement Info
Oregon allows for convictions to be "set-aside" (expunged) for many Class B/C felonies, misdemeanors, and violations. ORS 137.225.
Pennsylvania Expungement Info
Pennsylvania offers expungement for non-conviction data, summary offenses after 5 years, and some underage drinking offenses. "Limited Access" (sealin...
Rhode Island Expungement Info
Rhode Island allows for expungement of first-offender non-violent misdemeanors and some felonies after a waiting period. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-1 et...
South Carolina Expungement Info
South Carolina allows for expungement of certain first-offense misdemeanors and some non-violent felonies, and for non-conviction records. S.C. Code A...
South Dakota Expungement Info
South Dakota allows for sealing of arrest records not resulting in conviction, and for "set-aside" of certain low-level convictions (Class 2 misdemean...
Tennessee Expungement Info
Tennessee allows for expungement of dismissed charges and certain non-violent misdemeanor and Class E felony convictions. T.C.A. § 40-32-101.
Texas Expungement Info
Texas offers expunction for arrests not leading to conviction (dismissal, acquittal, pardon) and for certain convictions if pardoned. "Orders of Nondi...
Utah Expungement Info
Utah allows for expungement of arrest and conviction records for many offenses after a waiting period. Utah Code Ann. § 77-40a-101 et seq.
Vermont Expungement Info
Vermont allows for expungement and sealing of certain criminal records, including non-convictions and some qualifying convictions. 13 V.S.A. § 7601 e...
Virginia Expungement Info
Virginia allows for expungement primarily for non-conviction records (acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi) and certain pardoned offenses or specifi...
Washington Expungement Info
Washington allows for "vacating" convictions for many misdemeanors and some Class B/C felonies, which has an effect similar to expungement/sealing. RC...
West Virginia Expungement Info
West Virginia allows for expungement of certain non-violent misdemeanor convictions and pardoned felonies. W. Va. Code § 61-11-26.
Wisconsin Expungement Info
Wisconsin allows for expungement if granted by the judge at the time of sentencing for certain misdemeanors and Class H/I felonies committed by person...
Wyoming Expungement Info
Wyoming allows for expungement of records for arrests not resulting in conviction, and for certain first-offender misdemeanor convictions and deferred...