Expungement

Expungement is a remedy offered by courts in some states. Expungement means the public and most employers cannot see your criminal record. Expungement laws vary widely among the states that have them.

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

Connecticut - Expungement

What is Expungement?

Connecticut offers expungement, also known as an “absolute pardon.” Once you are granted an absolute pardon, all police and court records about your case are erased. The state destroys all of your court records. The state may not share this information with anyone, including law enforcement.

Who is Eligible for Expungement?

Under the Clean Slate law, certain state criminal convictions are supposed to be automatically erased. The law requires automatic erasure of eligible offenses that occurred on or after January 1, 2000. The law became effective in 2023; however, implementation has been delayed, and automatic erasure of eligible connections began in January 2024. Under Clean Slate, you qualify for an automatic expungement if:

  1. You have completed your sentence and supervised release for the crime you’re asking the court to erase, AND for any charges you were convicted of in Connecticut state court on or after January 1, 2000.
  2. You were convicted of a misdemeanor (except family violence and sex crimes), and it has been 7 years since your most recent conviction.
  3. You committed a Class D, Class E, and/or unclassified felony conviction (except family violence and sex crimes), and it has been 10 years since your most recent conviction. 

You are eligible to request an Absolute Pardon if:

  1. You have a criminal record in Connecticut
  2. It has been 3 years since your last misdemeanor conviction
  3. It has been 5 years since your previous felony conviction
  4. You are not on parole or probation
  5. You have not had a nolle (dismissal of criminal charges) in the past 13 months, and
  6. You do not have any pending charges or other open cases against you in any other jurisdiction, state, or federal.

What effect does expungement have?

All police and court records related to your case are erased after expungement. Your expunged record cannot be shared with anyone, including law enforcement, and the state is required to destroy the record. You may legally deny the arrest and/or conviction.

When can I apply for Expungement? 

You can apply for an expungement or absolute pardon 3 years after the date of your most recent misdemeanor conviction and/or 5 years after the date of your most recent felony conviction.

How do I apply for an Absolute Pardon?

  1. Determine if you are eligible for a pardon.
  2. Read the Frequently Asked Questions section of the BOPP website.
  3. Obtain all documents outlined in the ‘Documents Required for Absolute Pardon Application’ section above.
  4. Compile any additional documents you want to include with your Absolute Pardon Application. Please make sure documents don't have extensive formatting and special symbols.
  5. Ensure all documents you will be submitting with your Absolute Pardon Application are in one of the following formats: .jpeg, .pdf, or .png.
  6. Utilize Microsoft Edge to complete your application. (You can download the Microsoft Edge web browser for free online if you do not already have it installed on your device.)
  7. Apply for an Absolute Pardon by visiting the Board’s ePardons Portal below.

How Do I Apply for Expungement?

Here are the six steps to apply for an expungement, also known as an absolute pardon, in Connecticut:

  1. Determine if you are eligible for an absolute pardon. 
  2. Collect all of the documentation that must accompany the Absolute Pardon application. To access the forms, visit the Connecticut Board of Pardons & Paroles website here: State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.
    1. "Application for a Connecticut Absolute Pardon." The application will ask for your name and contact information, family information, criminal history, educational background, military records, employment history, substance abuse and treatment information, and volunteer or charitable activities.
    2. "Background Investigation Authorization" form. The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles will conduct a background check and review personal information such as personnel records, employment records, criminal records, and education records. They will also contact your friends, family members, employers, and others.
    3. Identify three references to complete the "Absolute Reference Questionnaire" forms. Credible references may include church leaders, employers, co-workers, and teachers. Only one reference may come from a family member who is related to you by blood or marriage.
    4. Get the completed "Absolute Reference Questionnaire" form from the references. References may attach a dated and signed letter to the Questionnaire. They must indicate they understand you are applying for an absolute pardon and complete the remainder of the form, including a signature and date. The form must be completed within one year of your application.
    5. Obtain the police reports for arrests that resulted in convictions within the last 10 years, or letters from the arresting police department stating the reports no longer exist. Make sure to mention all of your convictions on your application, even those you received in other states. To obtain a police report for an arrest/conviction that occurred in another state, contact the arresting agency from that state. If you do not remember the details of an arrest or conviction that occurred in the last 10 years, get a copy of your criminal history record.
    6. Obtain and submit a probation letter with the docket number(s), completion date(s), and probation completion status for each period of probation served.
    7. Submit your "Report of Separation" from military service or a photocopy of your Uniformed Services ID (USID) Card if you previously served in the military. For more information about how to obtain your Report of Separation, visit the National Archives website here: Veterans' Service Records. For information on how to obtain a Uniformed Services ID (USID) Card, visit the Department of Defense website here: DoD Common Access Card.
    8. Submit a photocopy of your current, non-expired Driver’s License or State Identification Card.
    9. Submit proof of employment or sources of income, such as unemployment or disability payments, recent W-2 forms, and letters from sources of financial support.
    10. Complete the "Statistical and Research Information Sheet."  This is an optional form that requests race/ethnic data for research and statistical purposes only.  It is not given to the Board members and has no impact on whether your application will be granted. 
    11. Include any other additional documentation that you would like the Board to consider when evaluating your application, such as certificates, resumes, or work evaluations.
  3. Write a personal statement to the board. This is not required, but it is suggested. Make sure to include accountability for the crime and demonstrate that you understand the effects the crime had on the victim and society. Include all of your positive accomplishments since your last conviction, such as educational achievements, employment, marriage or children, community involvement, charitable services or donations, and law-abiding behavior.
  4. Make a copy of the completed application and supporting documentation for your records. 
  5. Mail or upload the completed application and supporting documentation using the ePardons Portal. To access the ePardons portal, visit the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Parole website here: State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.
  6. Wait to be contacted. 

More Information About Expungement

For more information about expungement or an absolute pardon, call the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles at (203) 805-6643

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State field: Connecticut

Massachusetts - Expungement

What is expungement?

Expunging a criminal record means permanently destroying it. After expungement, the record is no longer accessible to the court or any other state, municipal, or county agencies. 

Who Is Eligible for Expungement?

In Massachusetts, there are types of expungement that you might qualify for: 

  • Time-Based Expungement: To qualify, you must meet these criteria 
    • If the offense is a felony, you must have completed all parts of your sentence at least 7 years ago. 
    • If the offense is a misdemeanor, you must have completed all parts of your sentence at least 3 years ago.
    • The offense did not involve violence, sex, a weapon, OUI, domestic assault, a child or elderly victim, or violation of a TRO
  • Non-Time-Based Expungement: The law allows you to expunge a record if the record was created based on
    • False use of your identification
    • Unauthorized use of your identity
    • Theft of your identity
    • Offense(s) that is/are no longer a crime (i.e., possessing small amounts of marijuana)
    • Fraud on the court

If you are not sure whether you qualify, talk with an attorney. If you are not a United States citizen, meet with an immigration lawyer before making any decisions about expungement.

What Effect Does Expungement Have?

Once a record is expunged, it is destroyed. Your conviction, dismissal, or acquittal is erased. You can legally deny being arrested or convicted. Although the record no longer exists in the state database or at the court, it may still be in the national FBI database.

How Do I Apply for Expungement?

Here are the five steps to apply for a Time-Based expungement: 

  1. Get the “Petition to Expunge” form. To access the form, visit the Commissioner or Probation’s office or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website here: Petition to Expunge Form.
  2. Complete and sign the petition
  3. Make a copy for yourself
  4. Deliver or mail the original to this address:

Commissioner of Probation
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02118

  1. Wait. The Commissioner has 30 days to review your petition, and the District Attorney has 30 days to object or not object. After the DA's response, the Commissioner then has 65 days to send your petition to the court. If the DA objects, the court holds a hearing within 21 days. If the DA does not object, the court will most likely decide based on your petition. The judge will grant or deny your petition to expunge based on "the interests of justice."   

Here are the five steps to apply for a Non-Time-Based expungement:

  1. Get a petition form from the court that handled your case.
  2. Complete the petition form.
    1. List all the charges from the case you want the judge to expunge. If you want to ask a judge to expunge records from different cases, you need to file a separate petition for each case. 
  3. Make a copy for yourself.
  4. File the original with the court.
  5. Ask for a hearing on your petition. The judge must find by "clear and convincing evidence" that your record was created by false ID or "demonstrable errors" by police, witnesses, or experts, or by some other cause.

More Information About Expungement

For helpful information about expungement 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.

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State field: Massachusetts

New Jersey - Expungement

What is Expungement?

Expungement deletes your criminal record, restoring you to the status you had before the offense. The state removes an expunged record from public view. For example, employers, landlords, and banks cannot see the record. Judges and law enforcement can still see the record for sentencing and investigative purposes. A court-ordered expungement can remove the following information:

  • Your arrest
  • All court proceedings related to your case
  • Your criminal or juvenile conviction
  • The outcome of your case, including your sentence

Who is Eligible for Expungement?

There are several types of expungement categories for which you may be eligible. In general, you are eligible to have your record expunged if the record is for an arrest, a juvenile offense, a dismissal, or possession of small amounts of marijuana or hashish with no intent to sell. You are also eligible for expungement if you successfully graduated from a drug court or if you were the victim of human trafficking or identity theft.

You cannot expunge out-of-state arrests or convictions, most motor-vehicle offenses, or very serious crimes.

In New Jersey, you may only apply for expungement one time. 

If you are uncertain about your eligibility for expungement, consider consulting with an attorney.

What Effect Does Expungement Have?

Once a New Jersey court grants an expungement, the court orders the New Jersey State Police to remove the record from public view. Police departments and courts seal the record.

Employers in New Jersey are prohibited from inquiring about expunged records. This means you can legally refuse to talk about being arrested or charged during a job interview. However, you must disclose your record if you apply for a job in law enforcement.

How Do I Apply for Expungement?

  1. Determine if you are eligible for expungement. The Legal Services of New Jersey has an online “interview” to help determine whether you qualify for expungement. To access and participate in the interview, watch helpful videos about expungement, and create and print forms, visit here: LSNJ - Legal Information.
  2. Get your New Jersey Police Criminal History Record. For more information on how to obtain your New Jersey criminal history record, see section: New Jersey-How to Get Your Rap Sheet.
  3. Collect all necessary documents and complete the required forms. Make two copies of each. To access the official form, click here. You may wish to make additional copies for your personal use. Documents include:
    • Petition for Expungement: The Application to the court requesting that the court expunge your record.
    • Order for Hearing: The document on which the court will schedule a hearing of your case.
    • Expungement Order: The document to be signed by the judge if your Petition for Expungement is granted.
    • Cover Letter - For Filing: The form letter to be sent to the court when filing your Petition for Expungement, Order for Hearing, and proposed Expungement Order
    • Cover Letter: The form letter to be sent when giving notice of the hearing.
    • Proof of Notice: The document to be filed with the court after notice is given.
    • Cover Letter - Notice Expungement Granted: The form letter to be sent when giving notice that the expungement was granted. 
  4. File your complete expungement package with the Criminal Case Management Office in the county where your arrest or prosecution occurred. Include the original and two copies with your package.
  5. Mail or deliver a complete expungement package to all required recipients. New Jersey law requires that certain people be notified and provided the opportunity to object to your expungement petition. The law requires that these people be notified within five days of the court's Order for Hearing on your expungement petition. Recipients include:
    • The Attorney General of New Jersey.
    • The Superintendent of State Police, Expungement Unit.
    • The County Prosecutor.
    • The administrator of the municipal court, if the matter was heard by a municipal court.
    • The Chief of Police or other head of the police department where the offense was committed or the arrest was made.
    • The chief law enforcement officer of any other law enforcement agency of the State that participated in the arrest.
    • The Warden or superintendent of any institution in which you were incarcerated.
    • The Records Division of any institution in which you were incarcerated.
    • The Identification Bureau in the county where the arrest was made or where you were incarcerated (a list of County Identification Bureaus appears at the end of this guide).
    • The County Probation Division should be provided a copy if you were granted a conditional discharge, conditional dismissal, enrolled in the Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI), enrolled in a juvenile diversion program (Juvenile Conference Committee or Intake Service Conference), granted a deferred disposition, performed community service, owed fines or restitution or served a term of probation.
    • The Division of Criminal Justice, Records and Identification Unit should be provided a copy if your case was processed through the State Grand Jury
    • The County Family Division should be provided a copy if you are requesting the expungement of any juvenile delinquency matters.
  6. Attend the hearing. If the court grants your petition and orders expungement, make sure to keep the expungement order, as it may be necessary in the future.

Clean Slate Act

Effective January 1, 2020, and amended in 2024, the New Jersey Clean Slate Law simplifies the process for petitioning for expungement. Under “Clean Slate,” you are eligible to clear an entire record of arrests and convictions 10 years after your most recent conviction, payment of fine, satisfactory completion of probation or parole, or release from incarceration (whichever is latest).

If you have any convictions for serious crimes (such as murder, robbery, or aggravated sexual assault), you will not be eligible for Clean Slate expungement.

Under Clean Slate, it is intended that you will not need to file a petition. Instead, the expungement will be done automatically by the court when you have met the waiting period and are otherwise eligible.

More Information About Expungement

For helpful information about expungement in New Jersey, and the required forms, click here: New Jersey Courts - How to Expunge Your Criminal Record. 

You may also visit the Legal Services of New Jersey's website here: Legal Services of New Jersey. Call their office at (888) 576-5529.

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State field: New Jersey

New York - Expungement

New York State currently has no laws to erase or "expunge" criminal records. The only exception is for certain marijuana/cannbis charges.

What Marijuana Charges Are Expunged?

As of March 31, 2021, smoking or possessing marijuana is no longer illegal. Courts were given up to two years to expunge most convictions.  

The following charges were/are automatically expunged:
PL 221.05: Unlawful possession of marijuana

  • PL 221.10, 221.15, 221.20: Criminal possession of marijuana in the third, fourth, or fifth degree
  • PL 221.35, 221.40: Sale of marijuana in the fourth or fifth degree
  • PL 222.25: Unlawful possession of more than 3 ounces of cannabis or more than 24 grams of concentrated cannabis
  • PL 220.06, 220.03: Criminal possession of a controlled substance (concentrated cannabis) in the fifth or seventh degree
  • PL 222.45: Sale of cannabis
  • PL 222.10: Restrictions on cannabis use
  • PL 222.15: Personal cultivation and home possession of cannabis
  • PL 240.36: Loitering in the first degree when the only substance involved was marijuana, and the conviction was only a misdemeanor or violation

If your case involved concentration cannbis (hashish), then convictions for the following offenses were/are automatically expunged:

  • PL 240.36: Loitering in the First Degree
  • PL 220.03: Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and
  • PL 220.06: Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree

How Does the Expungement Process Work?

The expungement process occurs automatically, and you do not have to take any action. There is no need to file a motion, and your record is expunged at no additional cost.

If you had a conviction for another charge in addition to an eligible cannabis charge, the eligible cannabis charge is expunged.

To confirm that your record has been expunged, you should visit the court where you were sentenced to request a Certificate of Disposition. This certificate will cost around $5-$15 and indicates the current status of your case or its final disposition. While you don’t need a lawyer to request a Certificate of Disposition, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a legal service provider or a public defender.

Are there marijuana charges that are not automatically expunged?

Yes. there are certain PL 221 (old penal codes for cannabis crimes) that are not eligible for expungement. These cannabis crimes are eligible for reduction through a motion:

  • PL 221.30 Criminal possession of marijuana in the first degree
  • PL 221.45 Criminal sale of marijuana in the third degree
  • PL 221.50 Criminal sale of marijuana in the second degree
  • PL 221.55 Criminal sale of marihuana in the first degree

In addition, if you are currently incarcerated for a cannabis offense, you may have your record expunged. However, the expungement may be influenced by whether the sentence included additional charges and the specific cannabis-related conduct. Under these circumstances, you would have to ask the court for resentencing to reflect the new, lesser penalty. This is not an automatic process, and it requires you to file a motion in court. This process usually involves the assistance of an attorney. 

These are the general processes that occur when submitting a resentencing petition:

  • File a resentencing motion with the court of conviction
  • Court will presume that a plea was not knowing, voluntary, and intelligent
  • Court may vacate or substitute a new sentence for lesser offenses
  • Court may NOT impose a harsher sentence
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State field: New York

Pennsylvania - Expungement

What is Expungement?

Pennsylvania offers expungement. Expungement destroys a record and restores you to the status you had before the offense. The state removes the record from all official sources. Employers, landlords, and banks will not see an expunged record. The record essentially disappears.

In 2018, "Clean Slate" expanded opportunities for expungement. 

Who is Eligible for Expungement?

In general, you are eligible to have a record expunged if you were not convicted, acquitted, found not guilty, nolle prossed, case dismissed, charges withdrawn, or you were convicted of a summary offense and you have no arrests for five years. A summary offense is the most minor type of criminal offense in Pennsylvania and is often called a “non-traffic citation.” Summary offenses can include disorderly conduct, loitering, harassment, and low level retail theft, among others.

Convictions for misdemeanors or felonies are not eligible for expungement. You may be eligible for expungement if:

  • You are at least 70 years old and you have not been arrested within the last 10 years.
  • You are pardoned.
  • The person asking for expungement has been dead for at least 3 years.
  • You were convicted for underage drinking and you are now at least 21 years old.
  • You successfully completed a diversionary program, such as ARD or Section 17.
  • You were convicted for summary offenses when you were under 18 years old, you are now at least 18, and you've been arrest-free for 10 years.
  • Your offenses were juvenile offenses. 

You will not be eligible for expunging 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.

What Effect Does Expungement Have?

Once a record is expunged, the record is destroyed. No one in the public can see it. Law enforcement and judges still have access to expunged records. When a court grants your expungement, the court sends you a copy of the order. The court sends copies of the order to expunge to the state police and all other agencies that keep criminal records. These agencies should send you letters to confirm that they have complied with the expungement order and removed the record.

When Can I Apply for Expungement?

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

Here’s when you can apply for expungement:

  • If you were not convicted, you must wait five years.
  • If you were convicted of a summary offense, you must wait five years. 
  • If you were convicted of a summary offense when you were under the age of 18, you must wait until you are at least 18 and have had no arrests for 10 years.
  • If you successfully completed a diversionary program, such as ARD or Section 17, there is no wait.
  • If you were pardoned, there is no wait.
  • If you are at least 70 years old and you have not been arrested for at least 10 years, there is no wait.

How Do I Apply for Expungement

Here are the five steps to apply for expungement:

  1. Get the correct expungement form. You need a separate petition for each case with eligible charges. You can get the forms from the clerk at the Court of Common Pleas in the county where you were charged or you can get the forms online. 
     
  2. Complete the correct form.
  3. File the petitions with the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the cases occurred.
  4. Pay the required fees. Fees vary by county. Ask the clerk about fee payment.

    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.
  5. Wait for the result. The county District Attorney has the right to object to your petition for expungement. If the district attorney does not object, the judge will probably grant your petition. If the District Attorney objects, you will have a court hearing. The judge will weigh your interest in getting the record expunged against the Commonwealth's interest in keeping the record. You may present evidence to support your petition, and the judge may call you to testify.

    If the judge grants your petition, you will receive a copy of the order. The court will send the order to all law enforcement agencies that keep criminal records. They will then send you letters confirming that they have complied with the order and destroyed the records.

More Information About Expungement

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

Your local legal aid group can also help. To find a local 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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State field: Pennsylvania