Sealing

Sealing is a remedy offered by courts in some states. Sealing means the public and many employers cannot see your criminal record. In some cases, records related to your criminal conviction are destroyed.

Sealing laws are different depending on your state.

To find out about sealing, select the state where your criminal record is located using the drop-down menu below:

Alabama - Sealing

Alabama does not offer sealing of adult criminal records.

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State field: Alabama

Alaska – Sealing

What is Sealing?

Alaska offers "sealing" of adult criminal records in very limited circumstances. "Sealing" means the record is shielded from view. Alaska does not offer expungement, which deletes or destroys a record. The state offers set-aside, but only for suspended imposition of sentence (SIS). 

Nonconviction records, such as charges and arrests, are not available to anyone other than criminal-justice agencies without your consent. Alaskan courts are prohibited from online publishing of acquittal, dismissal, and suspended-judgment records.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You are eligible to have a record sealed only if you were charged with a crime due to mistaken identity or false accusation. You must show the Commissioner of Public Safety that this happened to you "beyond a reasonable doubt.”

If you are uncertain whether you are eligible for sealing, consult an attorney.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once the Chief of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Criminal Records & Identification Bureau, decides to seal a record, the record is no longer available without a court order. The information is used only for law-enforcement employment and research purposes. The sealed record is not deleted but is hidden from view with a notice that the record is sealed. You can legally deny being arrested, charged, convicted, or sentenced.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing of charges, arrests, or a conviction only if you were the victim of mistaken identity or false accusation. There is no waiting period to apply for sealing.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the five steps to apply for sealing:

  1. Complete the “Request to Seal Criminal Justice Records” form. To access the form, visit the Alaska Department of Public Safety website here: Request to Seal Criminal Justice Records. The form includes instructions.
  2. Get the required documents that support your request for sealing. You must get official documentation showing that the charge was dismissed or you were acquitted because you were the victim of mistaken identity or false accusation. You must prove this "beyond a reasonable doubt." If you are asking for sealing because a court overturned a conviction or the governor pardoned you because of mistaken identity or false accusation, you must submit those documents.
  3. Make copies of the completed application form and all the supporting documents. Keep the copies for yourself.
  4. Send the original documents to this address:

    Alaska Department of Public Safety
    Criminal Records and Identification Bureau
    Quality Assurance Unit
    5700 East Tudor Road
    Anchorage, AK 99507

     
  5. Wait. The bureau will review your request. They may ask you for more information or for your fingerprints. The Commissioner of Public Safety will make the final decision. If your request for sealing is denied, you can appeal the decision to a court. You must show that the denial was "clearly mistaken."
     

More Information About Sealing

For helpful information about sealing in Alaska, visit the related links.

Related Links

The Papillon Foundation
Collateral Consequences Resource Center

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State field: Alaska

Arizona - Sealing

Arizona does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "set-aside." For more information about set-asides in Arizona, see section: Arizona - Set-Aside.

Arizona does allow courts to seal some juvenile records. These records can be seen only by a court order.

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State field: Arizona

Arkansas - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Once your record is sealed in Arkansas, the records are not accessible unless allowed by law. You can legally state that the offense did not happen and that a record does not exist.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You may be eligible to have the following adult criminal records sealed:

  • An arrest if charges have not been filed within one year of the date of arrest;
  • Charges that resulted in nolle prosequi a year or more ago, dismissal or acquittal, or if the prosecutor decided not to file charges;
  • A first offense for which the case was deferred and you were granted probation;
  • An offense for which you were sentenced to community correction;
  • A misdemeanor offense or violation;
  • A nonviolent Class C or nonviolent Class D felony;
  • An unclassified felony;
  • Specific drug-related Class A or Class B felonies;
  • Solicitation to commit, attempt to commit, or conspiracy to commit one of the above felony offenses;
  • A felony not involving violence committed when the person was less than 18 years old;
  • A prostitution offense that occurred as a victim of human trafficking; or
  • A conviction for which you have received a Governor’s pardon.

There is no limit to how many misdemeanor convictions can be sealed.

Certain felonies are eligible for sealing. You are only able to seal your felony record if you have no more than one felony conviction. You can seal more than one felony only if they are part of the same case or incident. All felony offenses that were committed as part of the same event must be considered a single conviction.

The following felony offenses are not eligible for sealing:

  • A Class Y felony;
  • A Class A or Class B felony except the specified drug-related felonies;
  • Manslaughter;
  • An unclassified felony if the maximum sentence for the offense is more than 10 years;
  • A sex offense;
  • A felony involving violence;
  • A felony for which you served any portion of you sentence in the Department of Correction; or
  • A felony traffic offense if you held a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license at the time the felony offense was committed.

In order to have your record sealed, you must have completed your sentence, including full payment of restitution, court costs, and driver’s license suspension reinstatement fees.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once your record is sealed, it is as if the the offense never happened. You can say that it did not occur and that no record exists. Your record will not be released in most circumstances. Sealed records can still be used for future criminal proceedings or determination of offender or habitual offender status, health care licensing by a state agency or board, employment with a law enforcement agency, and other reasons allowed by law.

Once your record is sealed, most of your rights and privileges are restored. If your sealed record was a felony conviction, you must provide proof to the country clerk that you have been discharged from parole or probation to regain your right to vote. Sealing your record does not restore your right to carry a firearm if that right was lost as a result of your felony conviction.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply to have your arrest record sealed if no charges are filed within one year of the date of the arrest. Similarly, if your case was nolle prossed, you can seal your record one year after the order of nolle prosequi was entered. You can apply to have your record sealed immediately if your case was dismissed, you were acquitted, or the prosecutor decided not to file charges.

If you were a first offender and your case was deferred while you completed probation, your record should be automatically sealed once you successfully complete probation.

If you were sentenced under Community Correction, you can petition the court to have your record sealed.

You can apply to seal your conviction only after you have completed your sentence, including full payment of any restitution, court costs, and driver’s license reinstatement fees. Depending on the offense, you may then have to wait for several years.

There is no waiting period if you were convicted of:  

  • Prostitution because you were a victim of human trafficking;
  • Most misdemeanors or violations;
  • A nonviolent Class C or nonviolent Class D felony;
  • An unclassified felony;
  • Certain Class A or Class B controlled substance felonies;
  • Solicitation to commit, attempt to commit, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses; or
  • A felony not involving violence committed while you were under the age of 18.

You have to wait five years after you complete your sentence to apply for sealing if you were convicted of:

  • Class A negligent homicide;
  • Battery in the third degree;
  • Indecent exposure;
  • Public sexual indecency;
  • Sexual assault in the fourth degree;
  • Domestic battering in the third degree;
  • A misdemeanor violation of driving while under the influence; or
  • A violent Class C or violence Class D felony.

There is no limit to how many misdemeanor convictions or violations can be sealed.  If your petition to seal your misdemeanor or violation record is denied, you must wait 90 days before submitting a new request. For misdemeanors with a five year waiting period, you must wait one year before submitting a new request.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the nine steps to apply to seal a conviction:

  1. Get a copy of your Judgment and Commitment Order form. To access the form, visit the clerk’s office at the court where you were sentenced and request a copy.
  2. Pay the fee. You may be charged a small fee for the copies.
  3. Obtain your Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) criminal history record for detailed information about what is on your criminal record.
  4. Collect all of the necessary documents. Most prosecutors will require proof that you have completed the terms of your sentence. You can get proof that you paid your fines from the sheriff’s department. You can get proof that you finished the terms of your probation from the probation department.
  5. File a Uniform Petition to Seal in the Circuit or District Court where you were sentenced. To access the correct forms, visit the ACIC website here: Arkansas Crime Information Center Forms. There are different forms depending on what type of record you want to seal.
  6. Submit the correct form. There is no fee to file any of the sealing forms.
  7. Make three copies of everything and go to the clerk of the circuit court or district court in the county where you were charged. For court locations, visit the Arkansas Judiciary websites here: Circuit Court Clerks and District County Clerks.
  8. File your petition and the supporting documents with the clerk.
  9. Give a copy of the filed legal forms to the prosecuting attorney and the arresting agency.

Once you file your forms, you must wait. If you are applying to seal a misdemeanor conviction, anyone who objects to your sealing can file a notice of opposition and give the reasons they are opposing within 30 days. If you are applying to seal a felony conviction, the court has to wait 90 days to see if the prosecutor objects.

If your petition to seal is granted, a Uniform Order to Seal should be filed with the court clerk. The clerk will send copies to the prosecutor, arresting agency, ACIC, and Administrative Office of the Courts.

More Information About Sealing

Related Links

Petition to Seal (Expungement) Packet
The Papillon Foundation
Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Clean Slate Clearinghouse

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State field: Arkansas

California – Sealing

What is Sealing?

Sealing means your record still exists, but the information should not show up on most background checks, so most employers and landlords will not see it.

Information about the offense will show up on your state RAP sheet if you have applied for a job as a peace (police) officer. The California Department of Justice will release the sealed record in response to any peace officer application request, to determine your eligibility in additional diversion programs, and if otherwise allowed by law.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

Sealing of adult records is available in the following four situations:

  1. You were convicted of a marijuana offense that has been decriminalized (is no longer a crime). You can petition to have the offense sealed and destroyed.
  2. You successfully completed a diversion program. You can petition to have the offense sealed.
  3. You were arrested but not convicted, have no other convictions on your record, and a judge has found you “factually innocent” of the offense. You can petition to have the arrest information sealed.
  4. You were arrested or convicted of a non-violent offense because you were a victim of human trafficking. You can petition to have the record sealed.
     

Most juvenile records can be sealed. You will find more information at the Clean Slate Clearinghouse.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Cases that are sealed should not show up on the type of background checks that most employers are allowed to use in California.

If your record was sealed after completion of a diversion program, the arrest and the fact that you completed a diversion or deferral program must be disclosed if you apply for a job as a peace (police) officer. If a background check is conducted because you apply for a job as a peace officer, the arrest and information about the diversion or deferral program will be reported. In addition, the Department of Justice may report information about the case in other situations.

If you were convicted of certain minor marijuana offenses under California Health and Safety Code sections 11357 or 11360(b) and those decriminalized under Proposition 64, the record should be destroyed two years after the date of your arrest, conviction, or release from custody.


To learn more about Proposition 64, go to: California Courts.

When and How Can I Apply for Sealing?

If you were arrested but charges were not filed because you completed a pretrial diversion program or were factually innocent, you should contact the law enforcement agency that arrested you and ask the agency to seal the record. If that law enforcement agency refuses to seal your record, you will need to file a request in court.

If you are applying to have your record sealed because of factual innocence, you generally need to file your petition within two years of the arrest.


If you were arrested and charges were filed in court, but you completed a diversion program, you were not convicted because of factual innocence, or your arrest or conviction was a result of your status as a victim of human trafficking, you need to file a request in the court to have your case sealed.

In other situations, your record should be cleared automatically.

If you were given a deferred entry of judgment and successfully completed the drug treatment program ordered by the judge and all court-ordered requirements, your record should be automatically sealed.

More Information About Sealing

Clean Slate Clearinghouse
Roadmap to Reentry: A California Legal Guide
California Courts

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State field: California

Colorado - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Colorado offers "sealing" of adult criminal records. Sealing does not destroy records, but it does make them inaccessible without a court order. Sealing is handled by the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

Eligibility for sealing a record depends on the class and level of the offense. 

To seal a conviction, the conviction cannot involve any of the following:

  • Sex;
  • Violence;
  • Domestic abuse;
  • A traffic violation;
  • Certain felonies; or
  • Certain drug offenses.

You may be eligible to seal the following convictions:

  • Petty offenses;
  • Drug petty offenses;
  • Class 2 or 3 and any drug misdemeanors;
  • Class 4, 5, or 6 felonies;
  • Level 2, 3, or 4 drug felonies; or
  • Offenses committed as a victim of human trafficking.

And all of the following must be true:

  • You have no other convictions, other than traffic citations;
  • You do not have any charges pending against you;
  • You have paid all fines, costs, fees, and restitution; and
  • You have waited the appropriate length of time, depending on the type of offense.

You may be eligible for Colorado's "simplified process" to seal arrests and nonconvictions if:

  • You were acquitted;
  • Your case was dismissed;
  • You completed a diversion agreement; or
  • You completed a deferred judgment and sentence, and all counts were dismissed; and
  • You have paid all fines, court costs, fees, and restitution in that case.

You are not eligible to seal an arrest or nonconviction if the offense involved:

  • Sex;
  • A traffic violation;
  • A commercial motor vehicle license or operation; or
  • Underage ethyl alcohol, marijuana, or paraphernalia offenses. 

If you are uncertain whether you are eligible for sealing, consult an attorney.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a Colorado court seals a record, it orders all other state agencies to seal their records. The record is not destroyed, but it is hidden from public view. The courts, law enforcement, and criminal justice agencies will always have access to sealed records. Other parties will need a court order to see a sealed record. If you are asked about a sealed record, you may legally state that there is no public record of that offense.

If you are convicted of another offense after a record is sealed, the court will order that record unsealed. Law enforcement may use sealed records to investigate, and criminal justice agencies may use sealed records to prosecute. Agencies such as schools, healthcare, and more that are required by law to do criminal history record checks have access to sealed records.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing of a conviction only after you have completed your sentence. There are waiting periods that apply. You must count from whatever date is the most recent such as the date of conviction, completion of sentence, completion of probation or parole, or final payment of restitution, and then you must wait for several years depending on the offense. You can apply for one sealing every 12 months.

Here is when you can apply for sealing:

  • If your conviction is for a petty offense or drug petty offense, you must wait one year.
  • If your conviction is for a class 2 or 3 or any drug misdemeanor, you must wait two years.
  • If your conviction is for a class 4, 5, or 6 felony; level 2, 3, or 4 drug felony; or a class 1 misdemeanor, you must wait at least three years.
  • If your conviction was for an offense committed as a victim of human trafficking, you may apply for sealing at any time after conviction.
  • For all other offenses, you must wait at least five years.

You can apply for sealing of arrest and nonconvictions any time after you are acquitted or the case is dismissed. In most cases, it is not necessary to file a separate petition. You may simply ask in court.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the seven steps to apply for sealing of convictions:

  1. Get the complete instructions to file a motion to seal. To access the form and detailed information about eligibility, timing, and filing, visit the Colorado Judicial Department website here: Instructions to File a Motion to Seal Criminal Conviction Records.
  2. Get the necessary official documents from the court clerks and arresting agencies.
  3. Get your current criminal history record from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
  4. Complete all of the forms.
  5. Make copies of everything.
  6. Go to the clerk in the county where you were charged. You must file your petition, with the supporting documents with the clerk.
  7. Pay the fee. Depending on your circumstances, the fee could be $65. This includes $27.98 for offenses involving controlled substances, petty offenses, and municipal offenses and $29.44 for victims of human trafficking.

    If you cannot pay the fee, you have the right to have the fee waived. To get a fee waiver, file a petition to "proceed as an indigent person." To access the petition, visit the Colorado Judicial Branch website here: Motion to File without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit or ask the court clerk for the form. File this petition form with the clerk. The judge will decide if you qualify for a fee waiver.

The court may hold a hearing on your petition. If the court does not hold a hearing, the court will notify you when the judge has made a decision. If the judge grants your petition for sealing, then you must notify the CBI and other state agencies. Send them copies of the signed order to seal. They have 30 days to comply.

To apply for sealing of arrests or nonconvictions, access the form on the Colorado Judicial Department website here: Sealing of Arrest and Criminal Records When No Charges Filed.

More Information About Sealing

Related Links

Colorado Judicial Branch
The Papillon Foundation - Colorado Criminal Record Resources
Collateral Consequences Resource Center

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State field: Colorado

Connecticut - Sealing

Connecticut does not offer "sealing" of criminal history records, but it does offer “expungement,” also known as an "Absolute Pardon."  To learn more about expungement, see section: Connecticut - Expungement.

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State field: Connecticut

Delaware – Sealing

Delaware does not offer “sealing” of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement".  To learn more about expungement, see section: Delaware – Expungement.

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State field: Delaware

District of Columbia - Sealing

What is Sealing?

The District of Columbia offers "sealing" of both adult and juvenile records. Sealing limits access to your criminal record. In most cases, a court order is required to see a sealed record. 

Sealing and expungement in the District of Columbia are used almost interchangeably. The Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2006 controls whether you can seal or expunge a record.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

In general, you are eligible to have a record sealed if the arrest occurred in the District of Columbia and you were charged in the DC Superior Court.

The following non-convictions and convictions are eligible for sealing: 

  • Non-convictions for misdemeanors and felonies such as dismissed, "no papered," or not guilty dispositions.
  • Convictions for misdemeanors if they did not involve violence, sex, fraud, drunk driving, or other certain criteria.
  • Conviction for felony failure-to-appear.

To access the list of ineligible misdemeanor offenses, visit the Public Defender Service of DC’s website here:  Record Sealing and Expungement.

Under the 2006 Sealing Act, there are three types of cases eligible for sealing:

  • Incorrect ID cases.
  • Fugitive-from-justice cases. The judge must seal the record if you were arrested in DC under a warrant from another state and you meet all the requirements.
  • The offense was decriminalized or legalized. You were arrested, charged, or convicted under law that has changed. If this is your only offense, the judge must seal the record.

And all of the following must be true:

  • You have no other convictions, other than traffic citations;
  • You do not have any charges pending against you;
  • You have paid all fines, costs, fees, and restitution; and
  • You have waited the appropriate length of time to apply for sealing, depending on the type of offense. The waiting period can range from two to eight years.

If you are uncertain about your eligibility for sealing, consult with an attorney.

If you are considering sealing for offenses in other neighboring states, you must follow that state's requirements and procedures. Contact an attorney in that state to determine your eligibility for sealing.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once the DC Superior Court grants a sealing, the court orders all district agencies to seal their records.

If your conviction, dismissal, or acquittal is sealed, the record is available only to law enforcement, courts, and authorized agencies.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing of a conviction only after you have completed your sentence. You can apply for sealing of non-convictions after the applicable waiting periods have expired. For both convictions and non-convictions, you will have to wait for several years unless the prosecutor waives the waiting period.

Here is when you can apply for sealing:

  • If your conviction is for an eligible misdemeanor, you must wait eight years.
  • If your conviction is for felony failure-to-appear, you must wait eight years.
  • If your non-conviction is for an eligible misdemeanor, you must wait two years. 
  • If your non-conviction is for an ineligible misdemeanor or any felony, you must wait three or four years.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the five steps to apply for sealing of convictions:

  1. Get your police clearance Option A criminal history record for sealing purposes from the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC).
  2. Get the complete instructions for sealing. To access the instructions, visit the Public Defender Services of DC website here: Arrest History Report for the Purposes of Sealing.
  3. Complete the correct forms to file your petition or motion in the DC Superior Court. You may go in person to the court clerk and ask for the correct form.
  4. Make copies of everything.
  5. Go to the Criminal Information Office to file the original petition, one copy of your petition, and any supporting documents with the court clerk.  The office is located at this address:

Moultrie Courthouse, Room 4001
500 Indiana Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20001

The prosecutor has 60-90 days to respond to your petition. After that, the court has 30 days to order a hearing or grant or deny the petition. If there is a hearing, you may present witnesses and evidence to support your petition. Some sections of the law say that the court must grant sealing or expungement, while others give the court discretion.

More Information About Sealing

Related Links

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
The Papillon Foundation
Collateral Consequences Resource Center
District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
Know Your Rights DC

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State field: District of Columbia

Florida - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Sealing a record in Florida means that the record is not available to the public. In general, sealing means that only courts and law enforcement can see the record. Employers should not be able to see a sealed record

Florida offers court ordered sealing. You must first apply for a "Certificate of Eligibility" with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility does not guarantee that your record will be sealed. It is up for the court to decide if your record gets sealed. For more information on sealing, see: FDLE Seal and Expunge Process.

You are entitled to only one sealing or expungement in your lifetime. The sealing could involve more than one arrest or charge, but they must be closely related.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You are eligible to have your records sealed if you first apply for and receive a Certificate of Eligibility. This Certificate means that the FDLE has determined that you are legally eligible to apply for sealing. In other words, the Certificate allows you to ask the court to seal your record, but it does not mean that the court will seal it.

You are eligible to have a criminal record sealed if all of the following are true:

  1. You have not been convicted of a crime as an adult, or you have not been found delinquent as a juvenile of a felony or misdemeanor. Note: certain driving violations are criminal, including DUI, reckless driving, and driving while your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled;
  2. You have no other petition to seal or expunge a record before any other court;
  3. You have never had a record sealed; and
  4. You have completed any court supervision that resulted from the charge you want sealed.

Under Florida's version of a "second chance" law, the record is eligible for sealing if adjudication was withheld because the court did not actually convict you.

Florida law has a long list of exceptions to this. If the court withheld adjudication, the court will not seal a record for many offenses including domestic violence, arson, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual battery, carjacking, stalking, and many more.

In summary, you are not eligible to get your record sealed in Florida if:

  • You have been convicted as an adult of any crime in any jurisdiction. Note: FDLE checks all state, federal, and criminal traffic records.
  • You were found delinquent as a juvenile for any felony or certain misdemeanors.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a record is sealed, only you, your attorney, law enforcement, judges, and some state licensing agencies can see the record. An employer cannot see a sealed record because the record is no longer public. Once a record is sealed, you may legally deny the charge or arrest.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing:

  • Once you have completed any court ordered supervision that resulted from the charge you want sealed; and
  • Up to one year after you receive a Certificate of Eligibility.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Applying for sealing is a two step process. First, you must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility with FDLE. Next, you must file a Petition for Sealing with the court.

Here are the steps to apply for Certificate of Eligibility with the FDLE:

  1. Request the Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE.

    Use this Certificate of Eligibility application to submit to FDLE:

    Certificate of Eligibility Application

    For the latest version, please visit the FDLE's website here: FDLE Seal and Expunge Process.

    Please print this form or complete using a computer. If you have trouble editing this form on your computer, try using the Chrome web browser.
  2. Include a Certified Disposition of the case that you are asking to be sealed with the application. You get this record from the court clerk in the court where the charges were brought. You may have to pay a small fee for each record. If you were put on probation, you will also need a certified copy of the Termination of Probation.
  3. Include a complete set of your fingerprints. A fingerprint form comes with the application. You will need to go to a law enforcement agency for fingerprinting.
  4. Pay a $75 fee. FDLE accepts only nonrefundable money orders or cashiers' checks made out to FDLE.
  5. Mail or deliver a copy of everything to the FDLE including, the application, supporting documents, your fingerprints, and the $75 check or money order.

Keep one copy of the complete application with all the attachments for yourself.

The FDLE will investigate and prepare a report on your case. This could take several months.

Getting a Certificate of Eligibility does not mean that your record is or will be sealed. It means only that you are allowed to ask the court for sealing.

If you receive a Certificate of Eligibility, here are the steps to file a Petition for Sealing with the court:

  1. File a Petition for Sealing with the court in the jurisdiction where you were charged or prosecuted.

    To view a sample from Broward County as a guide for procedures for filing a petition to seal a criminal record, click here:

    Procedures For Filing A  Petition To Seal A Criminal History Record

  2. Retrieve the forms for a petition from the clerk of the court where you were charged or prosecuted. Many counties have the forms with detailed instructions online.
  3. Send a copy of your petition with your Certificate of Eligibility and any other documents that support your petition to the state attorney who charged or prosecuted you. The state attorney or prosecutor may respond, either by objecting or supporting your petition.
  4. The judge reviews your case and decides. There is usually no hearing. If the court grants your petition for sealing, the clerk will notify all the law enforcement agencies that were involved in your case. The arresting agency will notify all agencies that have your criminal record that the record is sealed. This includes the FBI.

More Information About Sealing

For more information on sealing, visit: Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

 

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State field: Florida

Hawaii – Sealing

Hawaii offers sealing only after you have been granted an expungement. Sealing your court records means the information will not be available to the general public. To learn more information about sealing your records, visit the Hawaii State Law Library System’s website here: Sealing Court Records.

Juvenile records are considered confidential and a court order is required for any agency to access them.

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State field: Hawaii

Idaho – Sealing

Idaho does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement."  To learn more about expungement, see section Idaho – Expungement.

Idaho offers other options for record relief, but they apply only to people who are not incarcerated. Here are those options:

  1. Set-aside of deferred dispositions and suspended sentences: If you successfully complete probation, the judge may allow you to change your plea to "not guilty." Then the judge will set aside the conviction and dismiss the charges. Set-aside restores all civil rights, including gun rights. However, set-aside is not available for treason, murder, or offenses that require sex-offender registration and a set-aside does not expunge the record.
  2. Reduction of felony to misdemeanor: If your disposition is deferred or you are not sentenced to prison, and you successfully complete probation, you may ask the court for a reduction. You must wait five years after discharge, unless the prosecutor agrees to the reduction. You must not have committed any subsequent felony or be charged with any crime, and the court must find "good cause" to grant the reduction.

    Sex offenders may ask the court to remove or expunge them from the sex-offender registry. You must not be a repeat offender or a violent sexual predator, or be convicted of an aggravated offense. You must wait 10 years and be "law-abiding" during that time.
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State field: Idaho

Illinois - Sealing

What is Sealing?

This Illinois law, called the Criminal Identification Act, allows expungement and sealing of a criminal record. These two words mean different things.

  • Expungement: Expunged records are destroyed or returned to you. Law enforcement agencies will destroy their records and remove your name from any official or public record.
     
  • Sealing: Sealed records are kept by law enforcement agencies. Once sealed, the records are impounded, which means they are not accessible to the general public. Your name is removed from any official or public record. But sealed records are still accessible to law enforcement and courts.
     

This law does not apply to minor traffic offenses, divorces, the entry of an order of protection, or other civil matters.

Once your record is expunged or sealed, you do not have to tell anyone about it. In fact, it is illegal in Illinois for employers or potential employers to ask you if you have expunged or sealed records.

Some criminal records can be sealed by the court. The records remain available to courts and law enforcement, but sealed records are not available to the public. A sealed record is hidden.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You cannot ask to have a record expunged or sealed if you have a case pending.

Many felony convictions are eligible for sealing. There is a long list of convictions that can be sealed.  To view the list, go to the the Office of the State Appellate Defender website:

The Office of the State Appellate Defender

Here is the list of convictions that usually cannot be sealed:

  • Driving under the influence;
  • Reckless driving;
  • Any sexual offense committed against a minor; and
  • A misdemeanor violation that is a crime of violence: domestic battery, criminal sexual abuse; or violation of an order of protection, civil no-contact order, or stalking no-contact order.
     

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Because a sealed record is no longer public, an employer cannot see a sealed record.

Once a record is sealed, you do not have to disclose it when you apply for an occupational license. There are some exceptions where other state law requires you to disclose a sealed record for certain types of licenses.

For more information about licensing, go to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
.
 

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing:

  • Three years after the end of your most recent sentence for minor drug offenses;
  • Three years after the end of your most recent sentence for felony drug offenses and felony prostitution;
  • Three years after the end of your most recent sentence for Class 4 felony theft, retail theft, deceptive practice, forgery, or possession of burglary tools;
  • Three years after most recent sentence for Class 3 felony theft, retail theft, deceptive practice, forgery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver controlled substance;
  • Five years after the end of your most recent sentence or five years of no contact with the criminal justice system for any other Class 3 or 4 felony but not violence, sex, or gun-related; and
  • Three years for any misdemeanor conviction that is not excluded from sealing.


How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here’s a short overview of the process:

  1. Get copies of your criminal records;
  2. Review your criminal records and figure out if you can apply for sealing;
  3. Fill out the sealing forms; and
  4. File the forms with the court to begin the process.
You must file a request for sealing with the court in the county where you were convicted.
 
You’ll pay a filing fee at the courthouse plus $60 for the Illinois State Police to investigate. Filing fees vary by county.

Illinois police departments and prosecutors have 60 days to object to your request to seal. You will be notified of an objection. 

The judge may simply grant or deny your request with an order or the court may schedule a hearing.

 
If there is a hearing, you must go, or you risk getting your request dismissed.

If the court grants your request for sealing, law enforcement agencies have 60 days to seal your records from the time they receive the court order. The entire process may take several months.
 

More Information About Sealing

The Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD) has very detailed instructions in a booklet called "How to Expunge or Seal a Criminal Record" that is available online. The booklet takes you through the process, step by step, with links to worksheets and the forms you’ll need to file for sealing.

To view the booklet, go to the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender website: How to Expunge and/or Seal a Criminal Record

Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender
Phone: (866) 787-1776
Email: Expungement@osad.state.il.us

Related Links

Illinois Legal Aid
State Appellate Defender
The Office of the State Appellate Defender
Illinois Supreme Court Standardized State Forms

 


 

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Indiana - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Indiana offers "sealing" of adult criminal records. The state defines "sealing" as restricting access to records. The records are available only by court order. 

Under Indiana law in 2019, you can expunge and then seal nonconvictions, misdemeanors, and some minor felonies. This means the records may be seen only with a court order.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You are eligible to have a record expunged with sealing if the charges were dismissed, you were found not guilty, the conviction was vacated on appeal, or the conviction was for a nonviolent misdemeanor or class D felony that did not result in any injury to a person.

To be eligible for expungement with sealing all of the following must be true:

  • You have not been convicted of another crime during the waiting period. Waiting periods can be one to ten years depending on the type of offense.
  • You do not have any charges pending against you.
  • You do not have a suspended Indiana driver's license.
  • You have waited for the appropriate time period to ask for expungement. Time periods can be one to ten years depending on the type of offense.

The following offenses are not eligible:

  • Sex offenses;
  • Violent offenses;
  • Human trafficking; or
  • Official misconduct.

Consult an attorney if you are uncertain whether you are eligible for sealing.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once an Indiana court grants an expungement with sealing, the court orders all state agencies to seal their records. Criminal justice agencies, law enforcement, and courts must remove all information about the arrest, charge, or conviction. The expunged information is available only by court order. Your conviction, dismissal, or acquittal is erased. In most cases, you can legally deny being arrested or convicted.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

Non-conviction records, misdemeanors, and minor felonies are sealed upon expungement.

You can apply for expungement after your conviction or after you have completed your sentence. You must count from whatever date is most recent then wait several years.

Here is when you can apply for expungement:

  • If you were arrested, not prosecuted, or the conviction was overturned on appeal, you must wait one year from the final disposition.
  • If your conviction is for a misdemeanor or a Class D felony reduced to a misdemeanor, you must wait five years after conviction.
  • If your conviction is for a nonviolent felony or Class D felony, you must wait either eight years after conviction or three years after you complete your sentence.
  • If you were convicted of a serious felony, you must wait either 10 years after conviction or five years after you complete your sentence. You must get the consent of the prosecuting attorney.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Sealing takes place upon expungement if eligible. Here are the six steps to apply for expungement:

  1. Go to the court where your case took place and file a petition for expungement. The court clerk will give you the form. The form may also be available on the court's website. Make sure to list all your eligible offenses at one time on the same petition. If your offenses occurred in more than one Indiana county, then you must file petitions in more than one court and file all petitions within one year.
  2. Collect any required documentation to complete your petition.
  3. Make copies of everything for yourself.
  4. Go to the clerk in the county where you were charged to file your petition and supporting documents.
  5. Pay the fee. The conviction expungement fee is $156 depending on your circumstances. Expungements for arrests and other nonconvictions are free.

    If you cannot pay the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver. To get a fee waiver, file a petition as an "indigent person." To access the petition, visit the Indiana Judicial Branch website here: Indiana Coalition for Court Access General Fee Waiver Form. File this petition form with the clerk. The judge will decide if you qualify for a fee waiver.
  6. Wait. The court will hold a hearing on your petition only if the prosecuting attorney on your case objects to the expungement. Otherwise, the court will notify you when the judge has made a decision.

    If the judge denies your petition for expungement, you will have to wait another three years to file again.

More Information About Sealing

Related Links

Indiana Coalition for Court Access
The Papillon Foundation
Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Indiana's Expungement Process
Indiana Court Expungement Guide

 

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Iowa – Sealing

Iowa does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement."  To learn more about expungement, see section Iowa – Expungement.

When a record is expunged in Iowa, it means that the record is separate and held in a secure database that is not available for public access.

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Kansas - Sealing

Kansas does not offer "sealing" of criminal history records, but it does offer “expungement." To learn more about expungement, see section: Kansas - Expungement.

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Kenutcky - Sealing

Kentucky does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement."  To learn more about expungement, see section: Kentucky - Expungement.

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Louisiana - Sealing

Louisiana does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement." To learn more about expungement, see section: Louisiana- Expungement.

Louisiana law does allow courts to seal some juvenile records. These records can be seen only by a court order.
 

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Maine - Sealing

Maine does not offer sealing of adult criminal records. Only juvenile records may be sealed.

You may petition the court to seal all juvenile records if:

  • at least three years have passed since the end of your disposition;
  • there have been no subsequent adjudications or convictions since the disposition; and
  • there are no pending charges.

Once juvenile records are sealed, you can legally deny the charge or conviction. Access to these records will be limited to criminal justice agencies and courts.

The court may deny sealing your juvenile records if it determines that the public’s right to information substantially outweighs sealing the record. If the court denies your petition, there is no right to appeal. 

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Maryland - Sealing

In Maryland, sealing is called shielding. For information about shielding in Maryland, see section: Maryland - Shielding.

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Massachusetts - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Massachusetts offers "sealing" of both adult and juvenile criminal records. Sealing limits accessibility to the criminal history record. Usually, only courts and law enforcement can see a sealed record. 

Massachusetts offers two types of sealing:
(1) Administrative sealing; and
(2) Sealing by a court.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

In general, you are eligible to have a record sealed for misdemeanor and felony convictions and nonconvictions such as not guilty, no bill, no probable cause, dismissal without probation, and nolle prosequi.

You are eligible for administrative sealing of most misdemeanors after waiting three years and most felonies after waiting seven years.

You are eligible for sealing by a court if your case ended with a not-guilty finding, a dismissal, or a nolle prosequi. You are also eligible if you have a first time drug-possession conviction and did not violate probation or any court ordered terms.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a record is sealed, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) limits access to the record. Landlords and employers cannot see sealed records. Courts, law enforcement, and authorized agencies still have access to sealed records. Courts cannot use a sealed record against you when you apply for sealing in the future. If you seal your record, you may legally deny having the record.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

Here is when you can apply for administrative sealing:

  • For most misdemeanors, you must wait three years after sentencing or release from incarceration. The waiting period begins from whichever date is most recent.
  • For most felonies, you must wait seven years after sentencing or release from incarceration. The waiting period begins from whichever date is most recent.

To apply for a court sealing, waiting periods do not apply.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the five steps to apply for an administrative sealing:

  1. Get the “Petition to seal convictions records form.” To access the form, visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website here: Petition to seal conviction records form.
  2. Complete the form.
  3. Get certified copies of any required documents from the court.
  4. Make copies for yourself. Once a record is sealed, you cannot get copies and you may need them in the future.
  5. File your petition with the Office of the Commissioner of Probation.
  6. Mail the form with supporting documents to this address:

    Commissioner of Probation
    One Ashburton Place
    Boston, MA 02108

Here are the seven steps to apply for sealing by a court:

  1. Get the court's “Petition to Seal” form. To access the form, contact the court clerk or visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website here: Petition to Seal.
  2. Complete the form.
  3. Collect documents and letters from people who are not family that can support your petition.
  4. Write an affidavit or a sworn testimony about yourself and why you need your record sealed. Under Massachusetts law, the court will look for "credible evidence" that you are at a disadvantage now or in the future because of your record such as obtaining employment, promotions, and housing.
  5. Make copies of everything.
  6. File the original documents with the court.
  7. Go to the hearing.

There are no fees for either type of sealing.

More Information About Sealing

For more information about sealing in Massachusetts, read the "Know Your CORI Rights" booklet. The booklet includes information about the process, links to forms, and other helpful websites. To access the booklet, visit the Greater Boston Legal Services website here: CORI and Juvenile Record Sealing Booklets.

Related Links

Massachusetts Legal Help
Massachusetts Government

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Michigan - Sealing

What is Sealing?

In Michigan, sealing a record applies to juvenile criminal history records. Sealing means you do not have to disclose a conviction that you received when you were a juvenile except to a judge. A sealed juvenile adjudication is no longer available to the public, and employers should not see a sealed record.

Juvenile records are not available online, so they are not available on the Michigan State Police (MSP) Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) database.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You are eligible to have your juvenile records sealed if:

  • You have no more than three juvenile adjudications;  
  • You have no felony convictions; and
  • Only one of your juvenile adjudications would have been a felony if committed by an adult.

You are not eligible to have these adjudications sealed:

  • A traffic offense
  • An offense that, if committed by an adult, would have been a felony and carries a life sentence

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

An employer will not be able to see a sealed record because it is no longer public. An employer is legally barred from using a sealed juvenile record against a job applicant.

State licensing boards may have access to nonpublic sealed records. A board cannot consider your juvenile adjudications when making its decision about your license application.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

Here is when you can apply to get your record sealed:

  • One year after the judge ordered the adjudication you want sealed;
  • One year after you completed detention for that adjudication; or
  • You have turned 18.

You must use the latest of these three dates to apply.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the 14 steps to apply for sealing:

  1. Ask the court where the adjudication occurred to determine where to apply.
  2. Complete the Application To Set Aside Adjudication(s). To access the application, visit the Michigan One Court of Justice Website here: Application To Set Aside Adjudication(s). You can get the application from the clerk of the court where your case was adjudicated. The application form has complete instructions on the second page. 
  3. Include a certified record of each adjudication that you want sealed with the application. You can get this record from the court clerk in the court where you were adjudicated.
  4. Pay a small fee for each record.
  5. Get fingerprinted. Include a complete set of your fingerprints (an RI-008 card) with the application.
  6. Provide your full name and current address, a statement that you have no other juvenile adjudications, and a statement that you have not been convicted of a felony on your application.
  7. Tell the court whether you have previously filed for sealing or set-aside and the result.
  8. Inform the court if you have any criminal charges pending against you in any U.S. court or other country.
  9. Give consent for the court to use the nonpublic record.
  10. Sign your application under oath in the presence of the court clerk or a notary public.
  11. Include the fingerprint card and a check or money order for $25 made payable to the State of Michigan with the application packet to send to the MSP.
  12. Make four copies of everything.
  13. Mail or deliver a copy to the MSP Criminal Justice Center, the Michigan Attorney General, and the prosecuting attorney of the county where the adjudication occurred.
  14. Keep one copy of the complete application with all the attachments for yourself.

You do not need to write a “sealing motion” in Michigan. Make sure to follow the application instructions above carefully.

The MSP will prepare a report on your case. The court will hold a hearing on your request to seal a juvenile record once it receives the report from the state police. This could take several months.

You must attend the hearing on time, or your request will be dismissed.

The prosecuting attorney will notify any victims of your crime, and they may appear at the hearing or send written statements to the court.  If the judge decides that your behavior from the time you were adjudicated and the time you filed your application shows that you deserve to have your records sealed, and that sealing the records “would not threaten the public welfare,” then the judge will probably seal your records. 

More Information About Sealing

For more information, please visit the Michigan Legal Help website here: Michigan Legal Help.

 

 

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Minnesota - Sealing

Minnesota does not offer “sealing” of adult criminal records, but it does offer expungement. To learn more about expungement, see section: Minnesota - Expungement.

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Mississippi - Sealing

Mississippi does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement." To learn more about expungement, see section Mississippi - Expungement.

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Missouri - Sealing

Missouri does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer two forms of expungement.

For more information about expungement in Missouri, see section:
Missouri
- Expungement.

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Montana – Sealing

What is Sealing?

Montana offers "sealing" of adult nonconviction records. Sealing makes the record unavailable to anyone except law enforcement and courts. The public cannot see sealed records without a court order. 

Montana law does not seal juvenile records until you are 18 years old, or the court no longer has jurisdiction, whichever is later. After that, the records are sealed.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You are eligible for sealing if you received a deferred or dismissed sentence.

If you are uncertain whether you are eligible sealing, consult an attorney.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a record is sealed, it is unavailable without a court order to anyone other than law enforcement agencies and courts.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing of deferred adjudications for a first-time felony or misdemeanors after you complete probation, usually one to three years, and the court dismisses the charges.

How Do I Apply for a Sealing?

Here are the two steps to apply for sealing:

  1. Get your criminal history record from the Montana Department of Justice, Criminal Records and Identification Services Section (CRISS). To access your criminal history record, see section: Montana - How to Get Your RAP Sheet.
     
  2. Contact the court to ask for the dismissal if you have a deferred sentence, but the record does not show a dismissal.

Once CRISS gets the order of dismissal, the CRISS will seal the record.

More Information About Sealing

For more information about sealing in Montana, visit the Montana Department of Justice website here: Non-Conviction Removal and Sealing.

The Montana Department of Justice created a flow chart explaining the sealing process. To access the flowchart, visit the Montana Department of Justice website here: Record Removal, Sealing, and Expungement Flowchart.

For helpful information about sealing in Montana, visit the related links.

Related Links

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Nebraska – Sealing

Nebraska does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "set-aside" for adult convictions. For more information about set-asides in Nebraska, see section: Nebraska – Set-Aside.

Nebraska law allows courts to seal juvenile records. These records can be seen only by a court order.

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Nevada - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Nevada offers "sealing" of adult criminal records and juvenile records. Sealing does not delete or destroy your criminal record, but it makes the records inaccessible without a court order. Sealed records may be used in some circumstances such as criminal investigations or sentencing. Employers, landlords, and banks will not see a sealed record.

Nevada law seals most juvenile records automatically at age 21. Some records are sealed at age 30. In addition, some records can be sealed before age 21 if there are no adjudications or referrals in the last three years.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You can apply to seal records of arrest, conviction, acquittal, or dismissal. To be eligible for sealing depends on the category of the offense and other factors. There are specific Nevada statutes that affect your eligibility.

The following convictions may be eligible for sealing:

  • A category A felony;
  • A category B, C, or D felony;
  • A category E felony;
  • Any gross misdemeanor;
  • Domestic-violence battery, but not a felony;
  • Healthcare fraud, but not a felony;
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited substance, but not a felony;
  • Operating a commercial vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited substance, but not a felony; and
  • Any other misdemeanor.

The following offenses are not eligible for sealing:

  • A crime against a child;
  • A sex crime;
  • A felony conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited substance;
  • A felony conviction for operating a commercial vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited substance;
  • A conviction for driving under the influence that caused death or substantial bodily harm;
  • A second felony conviction for operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance;
  • A conviction for operating a watercraft under the influence causing death or substantial bodily harm; or homicide by vessel.

If you are uncertain whether you are eligible for sealing, consult an attorney.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a Nevada court seals a record, the court orders the central repository to seal their records. The court will also notify federal agencies to seal their records, but they are not bound by a Nevada court order. You are responsible to deliver copies of the Order to Seal to all the agencies, law enforcement, and other officials that were listed on your sealing petition. Once the central repository receives an Order to Seal, the sealing process will take two to four months to complete.

Once sealed, your conviction, dismissal, or acquittal goes away as if it never happened. In most cases, you can legally deny being arrested or convicted. If your civil rights, the right to vote, the right to hold office, and the right to serve on a jury were not restored before your record is sealed, they are restored immediately upon sealing.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing of a conviction only after you have completed your sentence. Waiting periods apply. You must count from whatever date is the most recent such as the date of conviction, completion of sentence, completion of probation or parole, or final payment of restitution and then wait for several years.

If your conviction is for:

  • A category A felony, you must wait 10 years.
  • A category B, C, or D felony, you must wait five years.
  • A category E felony, you must wait two years.
  • A gross misdemeanor, you must wait two years.
  • Healthcare fraud, driving under the influence, or domestic violence, but not a felony, you must wait seven years.
  • Any other misdemeanor, you must wait one year.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Sealing is handled by the county court where you were convicted. In some cases, the district attorney may "stipulate" or agree that your record be sealed. In others case, you may have to go to a court hearing.

Here are the five steps to apply for sealing:

  1. Get a copy of your criminal history record from the Nevada Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Central Repository. Enter the reason you are asking for the record as "for the purpose of sealing records."
  2. Get your fingerprints taken at your local police or sheriff's department.
  3. Go in person or call the district attorney's office in the county where you were convicted or arrested for instructions. Every district has their own set of forms and requirements for sealing. The district attorney's office will give you that county's sealing packet.
  4. Make copies of everything and take them to the district attorney's office in the county where you were charged.
  5. Wait for a response. If the district attorney agrees to sealing, the office will notify you and give you instructions to file your petition and order with the court or the court may hold a hearing on your petition. The court will notify you when the judge has made a decision.

More Information About Sealing

The Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a "Sealing of Criminal History Records" document that includes general instructions, information, and relevant statutes. To access the document, visit the DPS website here: Sealing of Criminal History Records General Information.

Related Links

The Papillon Foundation
Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Nevada Department of Public Safety Records, Communications and Compliance Division

 

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New Mexico – Sealing

New Mexico does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement." To learn more about expungement, see section: New Mexico - Expungement.

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New York - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Sealing means that your record still exists, but all fingerprint and palm print cards, booking photos, and DNA samples related to the sealed case are returned to you or destroyed. Digital fingerprints, even if they are from the sealed case, are not destroyed if you already have fingerprints on file from a different unsealed case. When your case is sealed, records from the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Police, Prosecutor, and in some cases, court files, are hidden from the public.

Under the new sealing law passed in October of 2017, sealed records will remain available only to "qualified agencies." This includes agencies within the criminal justice system such as courts, law enforcement, law enforcement-related jobs, or employers responsible for issuing firearms.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

There are four types of cases that are closed or sealed without you having to do anything:

1. Cases where you got a good result. This means:

  • Acquittal. The judge or jury found you not guilty after a trial;
  • Dismissal . The case ended for a reason other than acquittal, but the court did not find you guilty. Possible dismissals include: Dismissal by Grand Jury (no true bill), Dismissal of the Information, and Dismissal in the Interests of Justice;
  • Dismissal after Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD). If you were not arrested again during a time period determined by the judge, your case was dismissed.
  • Decline Prosecution (Nolle Prosequi). The prosecutor decided not to move forward with the case against you.
  • Decline to File Accusatory Instrument. The police decided not to move forward with the case against you. Order Setting Aside the Verdict. The judge changed the verdict after trial and before sentencing.
  • Order Vacating a Judgment. The judge canceled the judgment after you were sentenced.
  • Habeas Appeal. A challenge to an unlawful arrest or imprisonment.

2. Crimes Committed by Children.
3. Crimes committed by Youthful Offenders.
4. Violations and Traffic Infractions like disorderly conduct and trespass are partially sealed.

Since 2009, if you were convicted of a certain drug-related misdemeanor and/or felony (see Rockefeller Drug Law Reform for a list of eligible crimes), you can ask the court to have your records of those crimes sealed if you:

  • Completed a Judicial Diversion Program, DTAP (Drug Treatment Alternative to Treatment Program), or a similar substance abuse treatment program recognized by the court; and
  • Completed any other sentence following completion of treatment; and
  • Have no other pending charges against you.

The new sealing law passed in October 2017 expands cases that are eligible for sealing. You may be eligible if:

  1. Ten years have passed since your last criminal conviction or since you were imprisoned, on probation, or paroled; and
  2. You have no more than two convictions--only one of which may be a felony (excluding those for sex offenses, Class A felonies or violent felonies).
If you have multiple convictions committed as part of the same criminal event, you are considered to have just one conviction under this law. So, several charges all related to the same crime/incident are considered only one conviction in terms of your eligibility to seal.

You may not seal your case if:

  • Charges were dropped due to the conviction of another crime or cases dropped due to the determination of mental incapacitation;
  • The judge issued a "do not seal order." Cases that appear eligible could still have "do not seal orders" from the judge;
  • You have outstanding charges; or
  • You are convicted of another crime.
     

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

After you have sealed your arrests, prosecutions, and convictions, you do not have to tell an employer about that part of your criminal record, unless a judge orders otherwise.

Sealing means that the record still exists, but all related fingerprint and palm print cards, booking photos, and DNA samples are returned to you or destroyed. (Digital fingerprints are not destroyed if you already have fingerprints on file from a different unsealed case).

On your RAP sheet, cases that are sealed will be followed by the code “sealed 160.50” or “sealed 160.55” to indicate its status as sealed. When your RAP sheet is sent to employers, commercial reporting agencies, and other outside agencies who do not have access to sealed cases, your cases that have been sealed should not appear at all.

When your case is sealed, records are hidden that are related to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Police, Prosecutor, and in some cases, court files, except in these circumstances:

  • You request your sealed records with proper identification;
  • You authorize someone to get access to your records with proper identification;
  • You apply for a job where you carry a gun;
  • You are arrested while on parole or probation;
  • Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD) on a marijuana charge; or
  • A law enforcement agency makes a request to the court.

Under the new sealing law passed in October of 2017, sealed records will remain available only to "qualified agencies." This includes agencies within the criminal justice system such as courts, law enforcement, law enforcement-related jobs, or employers responsible for issuing firearms.

Under the new law, court files may still be accessible within the criminal justice system. This means that anyone who goes to the court, including an employer, will be able to see the conviction information.

Out-of-state and federal arrests and convictions are not a part of your New York criminal record. New York’s sealing rules have no effect on them. When the DCJS seals a case, they are supposed to notify the FBI to do the same thing. The FBI does not seal cases on its own, it simply responds to the requests of the DCJS. Therefore, you should make sure that your case is sealed both with DCJS and the FBI.

See section: How to Get Your RAP Sheet

Seals are conditional, meaning that being arrested for another felony or misdemeanor crime would result in the records being unsealed.

Records cannot be sealed while any charges are pending. If you are arrested or charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense following the sealing of your records, the records automatically become unsealed. If the case is then found to be terminated in your favor, the cases will once again be sealed.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

Your case should be automatically sealed if the case was resolved in your favor, you completed a DTAP or other treatment program, or you are otherwise eligible.

If you were convicted, and are otherwise eligible, you may apply for sealing 10 years after the date of your conviction or release from imprisonment, probation, or parole.

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Cases closed after November of 1991 that are eligible for sealing are likely to be sealed automatically (court notifies the Division of Criminal Justice Services who then seals the records).

Cases closed before 1991 are typically not sealed automatically. If your RAP sheet shows cases that you believe should be sealed, you should follow these steps:

  • Obtain a Certificate of Disposition slip (or an official court record of the case) from the court where your case was filed.
  • Look for the “sealed” stamp. If you do not find one, ask the clerk to check the court file and stamp the disposition, if the file authorizes its sealing.
  • Send the disposition slip to the DCJS with your fingerprint card and a letter explaining that you want the case sealed.

Contact the court clerk where your case was filed and ask how to apply to seal a case, if the court records do not have a "seal order." The Court Clerk may be able to do this for you, or you may have to write a letter, or you may have to make a motion.

  • If the court requires you to apply through a letter, ask the clerk for the contact information of the person to whom you must send the letter. Include any case-identifying information such as name, address, arrest, court dates, and your NYSID number in the letter.

To find the contact information for local courts, go to: New York State Unified Court System

Use this Sample Sealing Letter as a guide to submit to the Court Clerk's office:

Sample Sealing Letter

Please print this form or complete using a computer. If you have trouble editing this form on your computer, try using the Chrome web browser.
  • If the court requires you to apply through a sealing motion, send a copy of your sealing motion and affidavit to the District Attorney’s Office (DA) where your case was filed. Send another copy of your sealing motion to the court clerk. If your sealing motion is approved, the DCJS will be sent a sealing order.

To find the contact information for local District Attorneys' offices, visit: New York State Prosecutors' Offices

Use this Sample Sealing Motion as a guide to submit to the Court Clerk and District Attorney's office:

Sample Sealing Motion

Please print this form or complete using a computer. If you have trouble editing this form on your computer, try using the Chrome web browser.

If you qualify for the new sealing law passed in October 2017, follow these six steps:

  1. Fill out an application which must include the eligible offense(s) (seeWho is Eligible) and your reasons for requesting a Sealing Application;

    Use this Sealing Application to submit to the court:

    Sealing Application;

    For the latest version, please visit the New York State Unified Court System website here: Application to Seal a Criminal Conviction

    Please print this form or complete using a computer. If you have trouble editing this form on your computer, try using the Chrome web browser.
  2. Submit the sealing application to the court where your most serious offense occurred, or to the court where you were last convicted, if all the offenses are the same class of crime;

    To find the contact information for local courts, click here: NY Courts.gov

  3. The judge will review your application to see if you qualify under New York State Criminal Procedure Law Section 160.59 (see Who is Eligible);
  4. The Department of Probation and/or Parole will conduct an inquiry;
  5. The District Attorney’s Office in the jurisdiction where you submitted your sealing application will review your application and has 45 days to object to the application;

    To find the contact information for local District Attorneys’ Offices, click here: New York State Prosecutors' Offices

  6. If there is an objection by the District Attorney’s Office, then the court will conduct a hearing and make a decision. You or your attorney should go to the hearing. If there is no objection by the District Attorney’s Office, the court will decide the application without a hearing.
It may take about three months to get your records sealed.

More Information About Sealing

For more information or to submit a challenge to a criminal record, please contact the DCJS Record Review Unit:

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Record Review Unit
Alfred E. Smith Office Building
80 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: (518) 457-9847 / (518) 485-7675

Email: RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov

Related Links

Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
New York State Unified Court System

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North Carolina - Sealing

North Carolina does not offer sealing of adult criminal records.

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Ohio - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Sealing a record means that the record is not available to the public.

The record does not disappear. Government agencies such as the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), law enforcement, and court clerks keep both paper and electronic records in secure locations. In general, sealing means that only the courts and law enforcement can see the record. Most employers cannot see a sealed record.

For limited purposes, the following people can see a sealed record:

  • Police, prosecutors, and judges for future criminal investigations and sentencing;
  • Employers in law enforcement, childcare, healthcare, and some in real estate and finance;
  • Most Ohio State licensing boards such as medical, dental, accounting, and others for the purposes of denial, suspension, or revocation of a professional license.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

Generally, you cannot have more than one misdemeanor conviction or one misdemeanor and one felony conviction to be eligible to have your record sealed in Ohio. 

A court will count the following convictions to determine eligibility for sealing:

  • Convictions from anywhere in the U.S.
  • Two or more convictions arising from the same incident count as one conviction.
  • Two or three convictions not arising from the same incident but resulting from the same court proceeding, and for related criminal acts committed within three months of each other, may count as one conviction. The court has discretion to decide this.

A court will not count these offenses against you when deciding eligibility for sealing:

  • Minor misdemeanors (ticket offenses);
  • Most traffic offenses (other than convictions for OVI/DUI or refusing a breathalyzer test);
  • Speeding tickets;
  • Most convictions for driving under suspension (DUS); and
  • Most convictions for marijuana possession.

You are eligible to have a record sealed if all of the following are true:

  • You do not exceed the number of convictions allowed;
  • You do not have convictions for any prohibited offenses (almost all crimes of violence, sex crimes, and crimes that involved minor victims);
  • You have satisfied the waiting period; and
  • You do not have any pending criminal charges.

Being legally eligible for sealing does not guarantee that you can get your record sealed. After you apply for sealing, a court will decide. The court will consider the prosecutor's objections, your interests in clearing your record, any proof of rehabilitation, and the state's interest in keeping records accessible to the public.

Ohio will also seal your arrest record if you were not convicted. If charges against you were dismissed or you were acquitted (found not guilty) by a judge or jury, or a grand jury issued a "No Bill" in your case, your record will be sealed.

The sealing process usually takes about four to five months.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a record is sealed, only you, your attorney, law enforcement, judges, and some state licensing agencies can see the record. Most employers cannot see a sealed record because a sealed record is no longer public. However, in Ohio, there are some important exceptions. If you apply for a job that includes caring for children or the elderly, or working for a bank or law enforcement, those employers may be able to see your sealed records. Police may also see those records if investigating criminal cases or if you ask for a concealed carry permit. If you are convicted of a crime in the future, the judge or jury can consider sealed convictions for sentencing.

Once your record is sealed, you may legally say on job and housing applications that you have not been convicted of the sealed crimes. If an employer uses a commercial background check company and your sealed record shows up, you may have a legal claim against the background check company.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing only after your "final discharge" of the sentence for your conviction. This means that you have finished serving any jail or prison sentence, probation, or parole, and you have paid any fines and restitution. Court costs are not fines, so unpaid court costs are not a reason to deny a sealing application.

Waiting periods can apply depending on your conviction:

  • If your conviction is for a misdemeanor, you must wait one year after final discharge.
  • If your conviction is for a felony, you must wait three years after final discharge. 

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

The clerk keeps all the records for every case filed in that court. Every application for sealing starts with the court. Each court may have its own forms and its own process for sealing. If your convictions were in different courts, you must go to each one.

Here are the eight steps to apply for sealing:

  1. Go to the clerk of court's office for every court where you were sentenced.
  2. Get the following information below from each court clerk's office where you were sentenced:
    • the case numbers of all convictions and non-convictions on your record;
    • the name (drug possession, theft, assault, etc.) and the degree (for example, 1st degree misdemeanor or "M1") of each offense;
    • the dates you were convicted; and
    • the dates you completed your sentences (completed jail, prison, probation, or parole and paid all fines).
    • You can go in person to each court clerk's office, call, or search online for the clerk's website. To view a list of Ohio courts, please click here: The Ohio Judicial System
  3. Ask for each court's sealing or expungement forms (many clerks still use the term "expungement"). Ohio does not have a standard form or process for sealing. Each court will want you to use its application forms and process. The clerk might have different forms for sealing convictions, dismissals, or acquittals.
  4. Complete the forms and make copies (find out how many from the clerk). Be sure to make one copy of each form for yourself.
  5. File your application in the court where your case originated. You must file in each court or county where each case started. 
  6. Pay a fee of $50 for each application you file to seal a conviction. Applications to seal acquittals, dismissals, or "No Bills" are always free.

    If you cannot pay the fee, you have the right to have the fee waived. To get a fee waiver, you must file a notarized "poverty affidavit" with your application. This is a written and sworn statement that you have a low income and cannot pay the fee. Most courts have their own forms for this affidavit, so ask the clerk in person, or look online at the court's website.

    Some courts accept a generic poverty affidavit form. You can find a generic form with instructions to fill it out here: Law Help Interactive or Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. The judge will decide if you qualify for a fee waiver or a reduced fee.

     
  7. Prepare for the hearing once you receive a hearing date. You will get a hearing date from the clerk, either when you file for sealing or by mail. The court will also notify the prosecutor, and the prosecutor might object to sealing your record. The court's probation department may contact you to verify your eligibility for sealing.

    Between the time you file and the hearing date, start preparing. The judge wants to hear good things about you, so prepare your answers to possible questions about your life. Think about why you want your record sealed. Consider how to answer any objections the prosecutor might have. Collect information that shows you are rehabilitated.

     
  8. Go to the hearing and be on time. If you do not go, the judge will probably deny your application for sealing. The judge will follow the eligibility rules and will consider whether sealing your record is in the public's interest. Usually, the judge decides at the hearing. If later, you will get the decision by mail.

Here is when it could be helpful to talk to an attorney about sealing your record:

  • If the process for sealing is intimidating or confusing to you;
  • If the clerk's office is not helpful;
  • If going to the hearing alone is intimidating; or
  • If the judge denied your application, and you don't understand why.

More Information About Sealing

Most legal aid offices in Ohio will assist with applying for record sealing. In Hamilton County, the Ohio Justice & Policy Center and the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office provide this kind of legal help. To learn more about record sealing, please visit the Ohio Justice & Policy Center website here: Ohio JPC.

The Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation has done pro bono work to help individuals with sealing, and more information can be found here: Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland also has an online tool that assists in the sealing process, and can be found here: Law Help Interactive

Related Links

Ohio Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition
The Papillon Foundation (For links to free county specific forms and instructions)
Office of the Ohio Public Defender
Ohio Attorney General


 



 

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Oklahoma – Sealing

Oklahoma does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungment". To learn more about expungement, see section: Oklahoma - Expungement.

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State field: Oklahoma

Oregon – Sealing

Oregon does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "set asides.” For more information about set-asides in Oregon, see section: Oregon - Set-Aside.

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Pennsylvania - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Pennsylvania offers sealing, also called "limited access." Sealing a record means that the record is not available to the public. The record does not disappear as government agencies such as the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and courts can still see the records for approved purposes. Most employers cannot see a sealed record.

In 2018, "Clean Slate" law expanded opportunities for sealing. Clean Slate is the first law in the nation to automatically seal certain criminal records from public view. In addition, more types of offenses are eligible for sealing under this law. This includes some first-degree misdemeanors, which can now be sealed through petitions.

Arrest records will be sealed after charges are dropped and some minor conviction records will be sealed after 10 years. Automated sealing began on June 28, 2019. By June 27, 2020, over 30 million cases will be sealed, without the cost of filing petitions in court. 

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

Pennsylvania expanded eligibility for sealing under its Clean Slate law. Between June 2019 and June 2020, the state will create an automatic process to seal arrests (not convictions) within 60 days.

After 10 years, the state will also automatically seal records of summary convictions, such as disorderly conduct, simple trespass, and public consumption of alcoholic beverages. Some second and third-degree misdemeanor convictions will be automatically sealed after 10 years if there are no other convictions within that same time period.

Other offenses that may be eligible for sealing include these:

  • Some first-degree misdemeanors that are non-violent or sexual
  • Second-degree simple assault after 10 years
  • Some first-degree misdemeanors or felonies after 10 years
  • Some second-degree or higher misdemeanors after more than 10 years

In other words, here is a partial list of what you cannot seal:

  • First-degree misdemeanors involving violent crimes or sex offenses
  • Misdemeanors if you have had a conviction within 10 years
  • Misdemeanors if you have ever had a first-degree felony conviction
  • Misdemeanors if you have had 2 or more felony or first-degree misdemeanor convictions within 15 years
  • Misdemeanors if you've had more than 4 convictions (excluding third-degree misdemeanors) in the last 20 years

You will not be eligible for sealing a record if you have not paid all court fines and costs. To find out if you owe any money, go to the Unified Judicial System website here: Common Pleas Courts Docket Sheets and search by name. Then call the court where you owe the money and ask them how to pay. If you have a credit card, you can pay online here: Pay Fines, Costs, & Restitution Online.

If you owe court fees in Philadelphia, go to the basement of the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice located at 1301 Filbert St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 to pay.

Sealing eligibility in Pennsylvania is complicated. You should speak to an attorney about your eligibility for sealing.

For a detailed list of excluded and disqualifying convictions for automatic sealing, visit the Community Legal Services website here: Pennsylvania Clean Slate Summary - Automatic Sealing.

If your conviction is not eligible for automatic sealing, it may be eligible for petition-based sealing. For example, certain misdemeanors of the first degree are eligible for petition-based sealing.

For a detailed list of excluded and disqualifying convictions for petition-based sealing, visit the Community Legal Services website here: Pennsylvania Clean Slate Summary – Petition-Based Sealing.


Felony convictions are not eligible for sealing at any time.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a record is sealed, only you, your attorney, law enforcement, judges, and some state licensing agencies can see a record. The general public, schools, landlords, and most employers cannot see a sealed record because it is no longer public.

For More information about who has access to sealed records, visit the Community Legal Services website here: Pennsylvania Criminal Record Sealing “After Care.”

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can apply for sealing only after you have completed your sentence and paid all fines and court costs.

For almost all convictions, you will have to wait at least 10 years to apply for sealing. For arrests, Pennsylvania's automatic process will seal the record within 60 days.

To find out out if your criminal record has been automatically sealed, follow the instructions here: Automatic Sealing - Check Your Public Record .

How Do I Apply for Sealing?

Here are the six steps to apply for petition-based sealing:

  1. File a petition for sealing with the court in the county where your case was heard. Each court has different processes to file petitions so you should contact your local court or legal aid program for more information.
  2. Go to the clerk of the court in the county where you were charged.
  3. File your petition with any supporting documents with the clerk.
  4. Send another complete petition to the District Attorney for that county within 10 days. Pennsylvania law requires that the DA is notified and has the opportunity to object to your sealing petition.
  5. Pay the fee if required.

    The fee for sealing is usually $132. You must pay the court clerk with cash, credit card, money order, or certified check. If you cannot pay the fee, you have the right to have the fee waived. To get a fee waiver, file a petition to "Proceed in Forma Pauperis" (IFP). This means you have a low income and cannot afford the fee. Ask the court clerk for the form or search for it online here: Pennsylvania Courts Forms. File this petition form with the clerk. The judge will decide if you qualify for a fee waiver.

     
  6. Wait for the result. If the District Attorney does not object to your sealing petition, the judge will probably grant it and notify you by mail. If the District Attorney objects, the court will hold a hearing. You will have the opportunity to present your case. Then you will have to wait and see what the judge decides.

More Information About Sealing

The Community Legal Services and the Pennsylvania Bar offer free clinics about the Clean Slate review process. You can find out more and register for a clinic here: Community Legal Services of Philadelphia and PA Law Help.

Your local legal aid group can also help. To find your local legal aid group, visit: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

The Pennsylvania Bar has a helpful brochure about sealing and expungement online, here: Understanding Expungement and Limited Access to Criminal Records.

 

 

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Puerto Rico - Sealing

Puerto Rico does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement"  known as "elimination." To learn more about elimination, see section Puerto Rico - Expungement.

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South Carolina - Sealing

South Carolina does not offer sealing of adult criminal records.

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Tennessee - Sealing

Tennessee does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer expunction.  To learn more about expunction, see section: Tennessee - Expungement.

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Missouri
Tennessee
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Texas - Sealing

In Texas, sealing is called "Order of Nondisclosure."

What is an Order of Nondisclosure?

An Order of Nondisclosure is a court order that seals a record by preventing its disclosure by courts, law enforcement, and other public institutions. Nondisclosure does not destroy a record but limits accessibility to it. The order does not apply to everything on your criminal record. It only applies to a single offense. You can apply for more than one order of nondisclosure.

For juvenile records, sealing is automatic for most offenses.

Who is Eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure?

You must meet three basic requirements for an Order of Nondisclosure:

  1. You have no offenses on your entire criminal record for certain violent crimes including family violence, aggravated kidnapping, sex offenses requiring registration, murder, human trafficking, etc.
  2. The offense that you want the order of nondisclosure for is not related to family violence.
  3. After you were discharged for the offense, you have not been convicted of any offense greater than a traffic violation punishable by a fine.

If you meet these three basic requirements and the specific procedural requirements below, you may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure.

In September of 2017, Texas law expanded the eligibility for Orders of Nondisclosure. There are now eight sections of the law with specific eligibility and procedural requirements. You will need to decide which of the law's sections applies to you and then satisfy those more specific requirements. The section that applies to you depends on the nature of the offense, your punishment, or your status.

You may be eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure if:

  • You received deferred adjudication community supervision (probation) for a certain nonviolent misdemeanor;
  • You received deferred adjudication community supervision for a felony or certain misdemeanor;
  • You successfully completed the Veterans Treatment Court Program;
  • You committed the offense as a victim of human trafficking;
  • You received community supervision following a conviction for a certain misdemeanor;
  • You received community supervision following a conviction for a certain DWI;
  • You were convicted and in jail or prison for a certain misdemeanor; or
  • You were convicted for a certain DWI offense.

The best way to determine if you are ultimately eligible for an Order of Nondisclosure is to go to the Texas Office of Court Administration's (OCA) website. To view the OCA's "Overview of Nondisclosure" with a series of detailed questions to help you, visit: Texas Judicial Branch.

What Effect Does an Order of Nondisclosure Have?

Once the record of an offense is under an Order of Nondisclosure, the criminal history information related to that offense cannot be disclosed to the public. This information can be disclosed to criminal justice agencies, authorized non-criminal justice agencies such as licensing agencies, your attorney, and you.

When Can I Apply for an Order of Nondisclosure?

Some Orders of Nondisclosure have waiting periods and some do not. The general rule is that you cannot have any offenses on your record more serious than a traffic violation punishable by a fine during the waiting period. 

Waiting periods vary from 180 days to 5 years depending on the specific offense. To find out the specific waiting period for your type of offense, go to the Texas Office of Court Administration's "Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure" website available here: Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure.

How Do I Apply for an Order of Nondisclosure?

Here are the steps to apply for an Order of Nondisclosure:

  1. Know your criminal history record. If you do not know it, get a copy of your record;
  2. Verify that you are eligible for the order, satisfying both the basic requirements and the specific requirements depending on which section of the law applies to your situation;
  3. Get the necessary documentation to support your request;
  4. Complete the necessary forms; and
  5. File your petition with supporting documents with the appropriate court or the Texas Department of Public Safety's Crime Records Services.

For detailed eligibility requirements and instructions with links to forms at the Texas Office of Court Administrators, visit: Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure.

More Information About Order of Nondisclosure

For helpful information about Orders of Nondisclosure or Expunction, visit the following websites:

Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Judicial Branch
Texas Law Help
The Papillion Foundation  
Texas State Law Library
The Texas Senate

 

 

 

 

 

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Utah - Sealing

Utah does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement."  To learn more about expungement, see section: Utah - Expungement.

To have records held by other agencies sealed, including those held by the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), you must send a copy of your order of expungement. Once an agency receives an expungement order, it must “seal or otherwise restrict public access to the relevant records in its possession or expunge all references to the petitioner’s name in the records.”

The court that orders the expungement will automatically seal all related court orders. When a court case is sealed, information is not publicly available and if anyone asks about the expunged case, court staff respond as though the case does not exist.

Under the new Clean Slate automatic expungement law that goes into effect May 1, 2020, if your record is automatically expunged by the court, the expungement order will be sent to the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

After you receive an order of expungement and provide proof to the BCI, the agency continues to maintain all expunged records. However, the records will not be released to the public.

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Vermont - Sealing

What is Sealing?

Vermont offers “sealing” and “expungement” of adult criminal records. Sealing does not permanently destroy records, but is moved to secure storage where access to the specifically sealed information is restricted.  Information in a sealed record can only be viewed pursuant to a court order.

Who is Eligible for Sealing?

You may petition the Court to seal a record of a criminal conviction if:

  • You were convicted of a “qualifying crime” or “qualifying crimes” out of the same incident or occurrence (see discussion of “qualifying crimes” below);
  • You were convicted of an offense for which the underlying conduct is no longer prohibited by law or designated as a criminal offense;
  • You were convicted of a criminal offense related to operating under the influence of alcohol or other substance; or
  • You were convicted of a criminal offense related to burglary when you were 25 years old or younger and did not carry a dangerous or deadly weapon during commission of the offense.

In general, misdemeanor offenses would qualify for expungement except those related to violent or sex-related offenses, violation of a protection order or prostitution.

Felonies committed when you were 21 or older cannot be sealed. Only the following felonies qualify for sealing:

  • Violation of 13 V.S.A. § 1201 related to burglary (except for burglary into an occupied dwelling)
  • Violation of 13 V.S.A. §1802 related to uttering a forged or counterfeited instrument
  • Violation of 13 V.S.A. § 2501 related to grand larceny
  • Violation of 13 V.S.A. §3701(a) related to criminal mischief
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4223 related to fraud or deceit
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4230(a) related to possession of marijuana
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4231(a) related to possession of cocaine
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4232(a) related to possession of LSD
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4233(a) related to possession of heroin
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4234(a) related to possession of depressant, stimulant, and narcotic drugs
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4234a(a) related to possession of methamphetamine
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4234b(a) related to possession of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4235(b) related to possession of hallucinogenic drugs
  • Violation of 18 V.S.A. §4235a(a) related to possession of ecstasy

With respect to convictions for violation of 23 V.S.A. §1201(a) related to operating under the influence of alcohol or other substances, you may petition the court to seal the record if:

  • At least 10 years have passed since the date on which you successfully completed the terms and conditions of the sentence for the conviction, or if you have successfully completed the terms and conditions of an indeterminate term of probation that started at least 10 years ago;
  • At the time of filing the petition, you have only one conviction of a violation of 23 V.S.A. §1201;
  • At the time of filing the petition, you have not been convicted of a crime arising out of a new incident or occurrence since you were convicted of a violation of 23 V.S.A. §1201(a);
  • You have paid all court-ordered restitution;
  • The violation did not result in serious bodily injury or death to any person other than the operator;
  • The violation did not involve operation of a school bus with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more or operation a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more; and
  • You are not an individual licensed as a commercial driver pursuant to 23 V.S.A. chapter 39.

There is a $90.00 fee to file a petition to seal a conviction of a violation of 23 V.S.A. §1201(a) related to operating under the influence of alcohol or other substance. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may complete and file the “Application to Waive Filing Fees” form. To access the form, visit the Vermont Judiciary website here: Application to Waive Filing Fees. The Court will notify you if you qualify to have the filing fee waived.

What Effect Does Sealing Have?

Once a Vermont court seals a record, it is maintained and can still be used by the courts and law enforcement in later cases. The record is not destroyed, but is moved to secure storage where access to the specifically sealed information is restricted. Information in a sealed record can only be viewed pursuant to a court order.

You can lawfully say that you have never been arrested, charged or convicted of that offense.

When Can I Apply for Sealing?

You can petition to seal a conviction if:

  • At least five years have elapsed since the sentence for the conviction;
  • Any restitution ordered by the Court has been paid in full;
  • The Court finds that sealing the criminal history record better serves the interest of justice; and
  • The petitioner committed the qualifying crime after reaching 19 years of age.

If your petition is for sealing of a conviction for violation of 13 V.S.A. 1201(c)(3)(A) related to burglary when you were twenty five years old or younger and you did not carry a dangerous or deadly weapon during commission of the offense, you may petition the Court to seal your record if:

  • At least 15 years have passed since the date on which you successfully completed the terms and conditions of the sentence for the conviction, or you have successfully completed the terms and conditions of an indeterminate term of probation that started at least fifteen years ago;
  • You have not been convicted of a crime arising out of a new incident or occurrence since you were convicted of a violation of 1201(c)(3)(A); and
  • You have paid all court-ordered restitution.

If you are seeking sealing of a record where you were cited or arrested but were not convicted, you may file a petition for expungement at any time.

If you were cited or arrested after June 30, 2018, sealing will typically occur without the need for you to file formal petitions.

How Do I Apply for a Sealing?

You can apply for sealing through the State’s Attorney or the courts.

Here are the seven steps to apply for sealing through the State’s Attorney:

  1. Request a copy of your record from the Court. If you only have one charge or conviction, or if all of your charges or convictions are from one court in Vermont, you can ask for a copy of your docket sheets directly from the criminal court at which you were charged or convicted. If you have charges or convictions from multiple courts in Vermont, you can ask for your docket sheets from each court. You may also obtain your criminal record from the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) for a $30.00 fee.
  2. Review your record and each charge or conviction separately.
  3. Contact the State’s Attorney to determine which conviction can be sealed. You can find the contact information for the State’s Attorney offices on their website here: State's Attorneys Offices.
  4. File a “Stipulation to Expunge or Seal a Criminal History Record” form. To access the form, visit the Vermont Judiciary website here: Stipulation to Expunge or Seal Criminal History Record.
  5. Send the Stipulation to Expunge or Seal Criminal History Record to the State’s Attorney. If the State’s Attorney will sign the Stipulation, find out whether the State’s Attorney is going to file it. The State’s Attorney may ask you to file the Stipulation with the court after they sign it.
  6. Submit the Stipulation, signed by both of you and the State’s Attorney, to the Court.
  7. Keep one copy for yourself.

Here are the four steps to apply for sealing through the Courts:

  1. Obtain the “Petition to Expunge or Seal Criminal History” form. To access the form, visit the Vermont Judiciary, Criminal Division website here: Petition to Expunge or Seal Criminal History.
  2. Complete each petition for the conviction(s). For misdemeanors, you can prepare one petition for each county where you were convicted of a misdemeanor. You can combine all misdemeanors from one country into one petition. For felonies, you should prepare a separate petition for each felony, so that if the Court has questions about expunging or sealing one felony, other felonies may be expunged or sealed without being impacted. 
  3. Pay the $90.00 fee to file a petition to seal a conviction of a violation of 23 V.S.A. §1201(a) related to operating under the influence of alcohol or other substance. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may complete and file the “Application to Waive Filing Fees” form. To access the form, visit the Vermont Judiciary website here: Application to Waive Filing Fees. The Court will notify you if you qualify to have the filing fee waived.
  4. Pay any outstanding restitution and fines. Any restitution ordered by the Court and any fines or fees assessed must be paid in full prior to the determination whether your criminal case qualifies for expungement or sealing.

The Clerk will provide the prosecutor who brought the criminal charge against you with a copy of your petition. The prosecutor is entitled to file a response to your petition. If the prosecutor agrees with your request for expungement, your petition may be granted without a hearing.

If the prosecutor is opposed to your request, the court will schedule the matter for a hearing. You must attend any hearings scheduled in your case. Failure to attend could result in the dismissal of your petition.

The prosecutor will also make a reasonable effort to notify any known victim(s) of the offense which you are seeking to expunge or seal. A victim of the offense has the right to provide a statement to the prosecutor and the court.

If your petition is granted, the court will issue an order which you can use in the event you need to prove that the offense has been expunged or sealed.

More Information About Sealing

For more information about sealing and expungement in Vermont, visit the Vermont Judiciary website here: Filing a Petition to Expunge or Seal Criminal History.

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State field: Vermont

Virginia - Sealing

Virginia does not offer sealing of criminal records, but a similar remedy called, "expungement" is available.  To learn more about expungement, see section: Virginia -Expungement.

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State field: Virginia

Washington - Sealing

Washington does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement." To learn more about expungement, see section: Washington - Expungement.

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State field: Washington

West Virginia – Sealing

West Virginia does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "expungement." To learn more about expungement, see section: West Virginia - Expungement.

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State field: West Virginia

Wisconsin - Sealing

Wisconsin does not offer "sealing" of adult criminal records, but it does offer "removal" of arrest records and "expungement" of convictions.  To learn more about removals, see section Wisconsin - Removal. To learn more about expungement, see section Wisconsin - Expungement.

 


 

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State field: Wisconsin

Wyoming – Sealing

Wyoming does not offer “sealing” of records but does offer “expungement.” For more information about expungement in Wyoming, see section: Wyoming – Expungement.

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State field: Wyoming