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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here is when you can apply for administrative sealing:
To apply for a court sealing, waiting periods do not apply.
Here are the five steps to apply for an administrative sealing:
Here are the seven steps to apply for sealing by a court:
There are no fees for either type of 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
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.
Statewide, under the 2017 sealing law, and then amended by the 2024 Clean Slate Act, your record is automatically sealed after a specified amount of time, depending on the type of criminal conviction.
Under the Clean Slate Act, all felony and misdemeanor convictions under New York State law are eligible for sealing, including:
1. Cases where you got a good result. This means:
2. Crimes Committed by Children.
3. Crimes committed by Youthful Offenders.
4. Violations and Traffic Infractions, like disorderly conduct and trespass, are partially sealed.
Automatic sealing only applies to criminal convictions under New York state law, and does not apply to federal crimes or convictions from other states.
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 their 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:
Under the new law, court files may still be accessible within the criminal justice system. This means that anyone who visits the court, including employers, will be able to view 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 responds to requests from 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 can 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 closed and ruled in your favor, the case will once again be sealed.
Under Clean Slate, the waiting period begins the day you are sentenced or released from incarceration (whichever is later). During the waiting period, you cannot have any other criminal convictions and must have completed any probation or parole for the conviction being sealed.
For Misdemeanors: Three years from sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later.
For Felonies: Eight years from sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later.
For Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI): Three years.
Once a case is sealed under the Clean Slate Act, it will not be unsealed if you are arrested or convicted again.
If you are convicted of another misdemeanor or felony during the waiting period, the time resets. You will have to wait another three or eight years, depending on the conviction.
Traffic infractions and violations are not criminal convictions, and therefore, will not affect your time calculation.
Certain types of jobs will be able to access and review your convictions, even if it is sealed. These job exceptions include:
The following entities will be able to access your records even if they are sealed:
No. Once you meet the basic eligibility requirement, sealing under Clean Slate will happen automatically. There is no application process to complete and you will not be notified when your record is sealed. New York State has until November 16, 2027, to seal all eligible convictions.
However, if you would like to confirm that your record has been sealed, you may obtain a Certificate of Disposition (CoD). In addition, if you were represented formally by indigent legal services or are currently represented by legal services the fee for the certificate is waived. Also, individuals who can establish they are low income may have the fee waived.
Blank Certificate of Disposition
Example Certificate of Disposition
For more information about the Clean Slate Act, click HERE.
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.
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:
In other words, here is a partial list of what you cannot seal:
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.
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.”
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 .
Here are the six steps to apply for petition-based 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.