Clearing a criminal record, state by state
Every state has its own rules for erasing or hiding an old record, and its own name for it: expungement, sealing, set-aside, nondisclosure. We cover all 50 states and D.C., each from its own law and court pages. 34 of them clear at least some records automatically.
Last checked October 30, 2026.
- AlabamaExpungement or redeemer actApply to clear
- AlaskaSet aside, suspended imposition of sentence (sis), or suspended entry of judgmentLimited automatic
- ArizonaRecord sealing, set aside, or certificate of second chanceApply to clear
- ArkansasSealing, uniform petition to seal, or act 346 (first offender)Limited automatic
- CaliforniaExpungement (dismissal), automatic record relief, or clean slateAutomatic clearing
- ColoradoSealing, automatic sealing, or expungementAutomatic clearing
- ConnecticutErasure, clean slate, or absolute pardonAutomatic clearing
- DelawareExpungement, mandatory expungement, or discretionary expungementAutomatic clearing
- District of ColumbiaSealing, expungement, or second chance amendment actAutomatic clearing coming
- FloridaSealing, expunction, or expungementLimited automatic
- GeorgiaRecord restriction, record sealing, or pardonLimited automatic
- HawaiiExpungement, expungement order, or deferred acceptance of guilty plea (dag)Apply to clear
- IdahoShielding (clean slate act), withheld judgment, or dismissal and dischargeApply to clear
- IllinoisExpungement, sealing, or motion to vacate and expunge (cannabis)Automatic clearing coming
- IndianaExpungement, sealing, or marked as expungedLimited automatic
- IowaExpungement or deferred judgmentLimited automatic
- KansasExpungementApply to clear
- KentuckyExpungement, vacate and expunge, or void and sealLimited automatic
- LouisianaExpungement, interim expungement, or set aside and dismissalAutomatic clearing coming
- MaineSealing, confidential criminal history record information, or pardonLimited automatic
- MarylandExpungement or shieldingLimited automatic
- MassachusettsSealing, expungement, or coriLimited automatic
- MichiganSet aside, expungement, or clean slateAutomatic clearing
- MinnesotaExpungement, sealing, or clean slateAutomatic clearing
- MississippiExpunction, expungement, or nonadjudicationLimited automatic
- MissouriExpungement, closed records, or automatic expungementLimited automatic
- MontanaExpungement, dismissal after deferred imposition, or confidential criminal justice informationLimited automatic
- NebraskaSet-aside, record sealing, or pardonLimited automatic
- NevadaRecord sealing, petition to seal records, or set asideLimited automatic
- New HampshireAnnulment, petition to annul, or certificate of annulmentApply to clear
- New JerseyExpungement or clean slate expungementLimited automatic
- New MexicoExpungement or criminal record expungement actLimited automatic
- New YorkSealing, clean slate, or certificate of relief from disabilitiesAutomatic clearing
- North CarolinaExpunction, expungement, or certificate of reliefLimited automatic
- North DakotaSealing, closed records, or deferred imposition of sentenceLimited automatic
- OhioSealing, expungement, or certificate of qualification for employmentApply to clear
- OklahomaExpungement, sealing, or clean slateAutomatic clearing coming
- OregonSet aside, expungement, or expunctionLimited automatic
- PennsylvaniaLimited access, clean slate, or sealingAutomatic clearing
- Rhode IslandExpungement, sealing, or filingLimited automatic
- South CarolinaExpungement, order for destruction of arrest records, or pardonLimited automatic
- South DakotaExpungement, suspended imposition of sentence, or pardonLimited automatic
- TennesseeExpunction, expungement, or certificate of employabilityApply to clear
- TexasExpunction or order of nondisclosureApply to clear
- UtahExpungement, automatic expungement, or clean slateAutomatic clearing
- VermontSealing, expungement, or deferred sentenceLimited automatic
- VirginiaSealing, automatic sealing, or petition sealingAutomatic clearing
- WashingtonVacate, vacating a conviction, or blake vacaturApply to clear
- West VirginiaExpungement, sealing, or pretrial diversionApply to clear
- WisconsinExpungement, special disposition, or pardonApply to clear
- WyomingExpungementApply to clear
How clearing a record works
Most states let you ask a court to clear arrests that didn't lead to a conviction, and many let you clear some convictions after a waiting period with no new offenses. What "cleared" means differs: an expunged record may be destroyed, while a sealed one still exists but is hidden from most employers and landlords. Police, courts and some licensing boards can usually still see it.
According to the Clean Slate Initiative, 14 states and Washington, D.C. have passed Clean Slate laws that meet its criteria for automatically clearing eligible records: Pennsylvania, Utah, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Delaware, Virginia, California, Oklahoma, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, and Missouri, plus D.C.1
Check your record first
You'll need the exact charges, case numbers and dates for any petition. Get a copy of your own record from the state's records agency or the court, and a copy of what background check companies report about you. How to get your own background report.
These pages explain the law in general terms. They aren't legal advice. Legal aid offices and court self-help centers can tell you whether your record qualifies, often for free.
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on October 30, 2026.
- StatesClean Slate Initiative (nonprofit)