Expungement or Sealing of Adult Criminal Records
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Many states allow you to expunge, seal or otherwise "hide" or "destroy" your criminal record. Generally, if a criminal record is expunged or sealed, it's as though the crime never occurred and you can legally say (to a potential employer, for example) that you were never charged or convicted of a crime.
State laws vary tremendously as to which conviction and arrest records can be expunged. See the articles below for details on the rules in your state, and on how to begin the expungement process.
Learn about expungement and sealing of adult criminal records.
While the benefits of getting your record expunged are widespread, in certain situations, your criminal record lives on and will be accessible for specified purposes.
Expunging federal convictions presents a challenge.
Federal judges in some federal circuits have broad, inherent powers to expunge conviction records.
Convictions for possessing small amounts of certain drugs may be dismissed.
Juveniles who possessed small amounts of certain drugs for the first time, who successfully completed probation, may be able to have their records expunged.
The president of the United States can grant pardons, commutations, and reprieves.
Each state has its own laws on the circumstances under which your arrest and/or conviction may be sealed or expunged. Click your state to learn more.
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
People who have sealed, or expunged, their adult criminal records often have questions like these