Pick an answer above to see your routes, waits and costs.
At a glance
A separate one-time shielding petition hides 12 kinds of minor convictions from public view after 3 years. Cases where every charge ended in acquittal, dismissal, not guilty or nolle prosequi on or after October 1, 2021 are expunged automatically after 3 years. DUI and DWI convictions can't be expunged or shielded.1,2,3,4
Expungement
Expungement of non-convictions, PBJ, stets and certain minor convictions
Expungement removes information about the case from court and law enforcement records; after the order, agencies must confirm in writing within 60 days that they complied. Employers, schools and state or local agencies can't require you to disclose expunged charges, and you don't have to mention an expunged charge that didn't lead to a conviction (Crim. Proc. § 10-109).1,2,3
What it's for: Cases that ended without a conviction (acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi, stet, probation before judgment) plus a few convictions such as cannabis possession, certain public-nuisance offenses and pardoned convictions.
Who can use it
- Acquittal (not guilty).
- Dismissal of the charge.
- Probation before judgment (PBJ), except for the impaired-driving and vehicle offenses listed under not eligible.
- Nolle prosequi, with or without a drug or alcohol treatment requirement.
- Stet, with or without a drug or alcohol treatment requirement, or a case compromised under Criminal Law § 3-207.
- A charge transferred to juvenile court.
- A conviction for one non-violent act followed by a full and unconditional pardon from the Governor.
- Convictions or not-criminally-responsible findings for listed public-nuisance offenses (for example public urination, panhandling, loitering, transit fare evasion).
- A conviction for an act that is no longer a crime (with some sex-offense exclusions).
- A conviction for possession of cannabis under Criminal Law § 5-601.
- A conviction vacated under Criminal Procedure § 8-302.
- PBJ for alcohol-related DUI or DWI (Transportation § 21-902(a) or (b)), after 15 years.
- Since October 1, 2026, a case that ended with a 'no finding' designation or was designated 'terminated without finding' (HB 187, 2026 Md. Laws ch. 466). The waiting period for these wasn't confirmed; ask the Court Help Center.
What doesn't qualify
- PBJ for a charge under Transportation § 21-902(c), (d), (h) or (i), or for vehicle homicide or life-threatening-injury offenses under Criminal Law Title 2, Subtitle 5 or § 3-211.
- PBJ if you were convicted of a crime (other than a minor traffic violation or an act that's no longer a crime) within 3 years after the PBJ.
- PBJ for DUI/DWI under § 21-902(a) or (b) if, within 15 years after the PBJ, you were convicted of a crime (other than a minor traffic violation) or got another PBJ for a § 21-902 violation.
- Anyone with a criminal case pending.
- Charges in the same case (a 'unit') as a charge that can't be expunged, with exceptions for minor traffic violations and cannabis possession.
How long you have to wait
| Record | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Acquittal, dismissal or nolle prosequi | 3 years after the disposition, or right away if you file a General Waiver and Release of tort claimsCases where every charge ended this way on or after October 1, 2021 are expunged automatically after 3 years. |
| Probation before judgment (most charges) | The later of discharge from probation or 3 years after the PBJ |
| PBJ for alcohol-related DUI/DWI (Transportation § 21-902(a) or (b)) | 15 years after discharge from probation |
| Stet or § 3-207 compromise | 3 years after the stet or compromise |
| Stet with a drug or alcohol treatment requirement | The later of completing treatment or 3 years after the stet |
| Nolle prosequi with a drug or alcohol treatment requirement | After treatment is completed |
| Public-nuisance conviction | 3 years after the sentence is completed |
| Cannabis possession conviction (Criminal Law § 5-601) | After the sentence, including probation, is completed |
| Pardoned conviction | File no later than 10 years after the Governor signs the pardon |
Some records clear automatically. Under Crim. Proc. § 10-105.1, cases where no charge ended in anything other than acquittal, dismissal, not guilty or nolle prosequi (not a nolle with a treatment requirement), decided on or after October 1, 2021, are expunged automatically 3 years after the disposition. You can ask for earlier expungement with form CC-DC-CR-072C. Separately, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services was required to expunge from the Central Repository, by July 1, 2024, cases where cannabis possession was the only charge and the charge was issued before July 1, 2023 (Crim. Proc. § 10-112); court records weren't included.
How to apply
- Pick the right petition: CC-DC-CR-072A for acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet or not criminally responsible; CC-DC-CR-072C for cases decided on or after October 1, 2021 where all charges were acquitted, not guilty, dismissed or nolle prossed; CC-DC-CR-072D for cannabis possession convictions. The Judiciary's Guide and File interview can help prepare them.
- If you want to file before the 3-year wait ends, also sign a General Waiver and Release (CC-DC-CR-078).
- File in the court where the case was heard and serve the State's Attorney.
- If no objection is filed within 30 days of service, the court must order expungement. If the State's Attorney objects in time, the court holds a hearing.
- Keep copies of your petition and the order; you may not be able to get copies of the case once it is expunged.
- Where to file
- The court where the case was filed or decided (District Court or circuit court).
- Cost
- No charge for CC-DC-CR-072A (acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet, not criminally responsible) or 072C. A cannabis possession conviction petition (072D) is $30 per case and is nonrefundable even if denied.
- If you can't pay
- You can ask to file without paying. For petitions that carry the $30 fee, the Judiciary says you may ask for a fee waiver.
- Court hearing
- Sometimes
- How long it takes
- 30 days for the State's Attorney to object after service; agencies have 60 days to comply after an order.
Official forms
Expungement
Expungement of convictions
Removes the conviction from court and law enforcement records. Employers, schools and state or local agencies can't require you to disclose expunged charges, and can't refuse to hire or deny a license solely because you won't disclose them (Crim. Proc. § 10-109).8,9,10
What it's for: A long list of misdemeanors named in Crim. Proc. § 10-110(a)(1) and a few felonies: felony theft, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and first-, second- and third-degree burglary.
Who can use it
- A conviction for a misdemeanor on the § 10-110(a)(1) list (the Judiciary publishes a list of expungeable misdemeanors). Since October 1, 2025 the list also includes credit card theft (Criminal Law § 8-204) and driving without a license (Transportation § 16-101).
- Felony theft (Criminal Law § 7-104).
- Possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (Criminal Law § 5-602), including cannabis.
- First-, second- or third-degree burglary (Criminal Law § 6-202(a), § 6-203, § 6-204).
- Attempts, conspiracies and solicitations to commit any listed offense.
What doesn't qualify
- Convictions not on the § 10-110 list, including DUI/DWI (Transportation § 21-902).
- A conviction for a new crime during the waiting period blocks the earlier conviction, unless the new one is also eligible.
- Anyone with a criminal case pending.
- If one conviction in a unit (charges from the same incident) can't be expunged, none in that unit can.
How long you have to wait
| Record | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Most listed misdemeanors | 5 years after completion of the sentenceSince October 1, 2025 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025, Chapter 95), waits run from 'completion of the sentence', meaning when the sentence, including any probation, parole or mandatory supervision, has expired. |
| Second-degree assault (Criminal Law § 3-203) or common-law battery | 7 years after completion of the sentence |
| Listed felonies (general) | 7 years after completion of the sentence |
| First- or second-degree burglary, or felony theft | 10 years after completion of the sentence |
| Domestically related crime | 15 years after completion of the sentence |
| Possession with intent to distribute cannabis | 3 years after completion of the sentence |
How to apply
- Fill out the Petition for Expungement of Records for guilty dispositions (CC-DC-CR-072B). The Judiciary's Guide and File interview can help.
- File in the court where the case was decided and pay the $30 fee per case, or ask for a fee waiver.
- The State's Attorney is served and listed victims get notice. If no one objects within 30 days, the court must order expungement.
- If there is a timely objection, the court holds a hearing and considers public safety, your success on probation, parole or supervision, and whether restitution was paid or you can't pay it.
- Where to file
- The court where the conviction was entered (District Court or circuit court).
- Cost
- $30 per case, nonrefundable even if the petition is denied.
- If you can't pay
- You can ask to file without paying. The Judiciary says a fee waiver may be requested; the legislature's fiscal note says fee waivers are available for financial hardship.
- Court hearing
- Sometimes
- How long it takes
- 30 days for objections after service; agencies have 60 days to comply after an order.
Official forms
Sealing
Shielding (Second Chance Act)
Shielded records are removed from Maryland Judiciary Case Search and public view, but remain available to criminal justice units, certain employers and licensing agencies (including child-care-related and health occupation boards), and you and your lawyer. Schools, employers and state agencies generally can't require you to disclose shielded records or penalize you for refusing.11,12,13
What it's for: Twelve listed minor misdemeanor convictions; it is a one-time opportunity.
Who can use it
- Disorderly conduct (Criminal Law § 10-201(c)(2)).
- Disturbing the peace (Criminal Law § 10-201(c)(4)).
- Failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order (Criminal Law § 10-201(c)(3)).
- Malicious destruction of property, lesser degree (Criminal Law § 6-301).
- Trespass on posted property (Criminal Law § 6-402).
- Possessing or administering a controlled dangerous substance (Criminal Law § 5-601).
- Possessing or administering a noncontrolled substance (Criminal Law § 5-618(a)).
- Use or possession of drug paraphernalia (Criminal Law § 5-619(c)(2)).
- Driving without a license (Transportation § 16-101).
- Driving while your privilege is canceled, suspended, refused or revoked (Transportation § 16-303).
- Driving while uninsured (Transportation § 17-107).
- Prostitution, not assignation (Criminal Law § 11-306(a)(1)).
What doesn't qualify
- Domestically related crimes.
- Any conviction not on the list of 12, including DUI/DWI.
- Convictions from the same incident as an ineligible conviction (all or nothing).
- Anyone with a criminal case pending, or convicted of a new crime during the waiting period (unless the new conviction is also eligible).
- Anyone who has already had a shielding petition granted (once per lifetime; one petition can include as many eligible convictions as you have).
How long you have to wait
| Record | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Any eligible conviction | 3 years after completing all sentences, including parole, probation or mandatory supervision |
How to apply
- Fill out the shielding petition (CC-DC-CR-148).
- File in the court where the case finished, in only one county, in either District Court or circuit court.
- The court notifies the State's Attorney and listed victims. If the State's Attorney objects within 30 days, the court holds a hearing; otherwise it may decide without one.
- Where to file
- The court where the case finished (one county only).
- Cost
- No filing fee.
- Court hearing
- Sometimes
Official forms
Automatic clearing
Maryland has limited automatic relief, not a broad Clean Slate law. Cases where every charge ended in acquittal, dismissal, not guilty or nolle prosequi (without a treatment requirement), decided on or after October 1, 2021, are expunged automatically 3 years after the disposition (Crim. Proc. § 10-105.1). Cannabis-possession-only cases charged before July 1, 2023 were to be expunged from the Central Repository by July 1, 2024 (Crim. Proc. § 10-112). Bills for broader automatic expungement and shielding (the Clean Slate Act of 2026, HB 360 and SB 483) were not enacted as far as the legislature's pages show: SB 483 passed the Senate 33-7 on March 5, 2026, but neither bill shows House passage or a chapter number (pages last updated June 30, 2026).2,3,4,13,14
DUI and DWI records in Maryland
A DUI or DWI conviction (Transportation § 21-902) can't be expunged: it isn't on the § 10-110 list, and the Expungement Reform Act of 2025 didn't add it. It can't be shielded either. A probation before judgment (PBJ) for alcohol-related DUI or DWI (§ 21-902(a) or (b)) can be expunged 15 years after you are discharged from probation, but only if within 15 years after the PBJ you weren't convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation and didn't get another PBJ for a § 21-902 violation. A PBJ for drug-impaired driving charges under § 21-902(c), (d), (h) or (i), or for vehicle homicide or life-threatening injury offenses (Criminal Law Title 2, Subtitle 5 or § 3-211), can't be expunged. DUI charges that ended in acquittal, dismissal or nolle prosequi can be expunged like other non-convictions.1,5,8,9
Arrests and dismissed charges
Acquittals, dismissals and nolle prosequi can be expunged 3 years after the disposition, or right away if you sign a General Waiver and Release of tort claims; there is no filing fee. If every charge in the case ended this way on or after October 1, 2021, the court expunges it automatically after 3 years. Probation before judgment can be expunged after the later of discharge from probation or 3 years, and stets after 3 years. Since October 1, 2026, cases marked 'no finding' or 'terminated without finding' can also be expunged by petition (HB 187, 2026 Md. Laws ch. 466). A pending criminal case blocks expungement, and a charge in the same unit as an ineligible conviction can't be expunged.1,2,4,7
Marijuana records
A cannabis possession conviction (Criminal Law § 5-601) can be expunged as soon as the sentence, including probation, is completed, using form CC-DC-CR-072D ($30 per case, fee waiver available); possession charges are an exception to the unit rule, so they can be expunged even if other charges in the case can't. Possession with intent to distribute cannabis can be expunged 3 years after the sentence is completed and is subject to the unit rule. Cases where cannabis possession was the only charge, charged before July 1, 2023, were to be expunged from the Central Repository by July 1, 2024, but not from court records. Since January 31, 2026, Judiciary Case Search may not refer to cannabis possession charges whose convictions were later pardoned by the Governor (the legislature's fiscal note says a 2024 executive order pardoned about 175,000 cannabis-related convictions).3,4,6,9
What employers can see afterward
An employer or school may not require you to disclose expunged charges on an application, in an interview or otherwise, and may not fire or refuse to hire you solely because you refuse to disclose them; violating this is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000, up to 1 year in jail, or both (Crim. Proc. § 10-109). You don't have to mention an expunged charge that didn't lead to a conviction, or a pardoned conviction. Shielded records generally can't be required either, though certain employers and licensing agencies keep access. Maryland's Criminal Record Screening Practices law (Labor & Employment §§ 3-1501 to 3-1503) bars employers with 15 or more full-time employees from requiring applicants to disclose a criminal record or charges before the first in-person interview; it doesn't apply where federal or state law requires or allows the inquiry, or to employers that serve minors or vulnerable adults, and local laws can be stricter.12,15,16,17,18
Free help in Maryland
- Maryland Court Help Centers
Free help from Judiciary attorneys at 410-260-1392, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, plus the Guide and File expungement interview.
- Maryland People's Law Library
The State Law Library's plain-language guides to expungement and shielding.
- Maryland Legal Aid
Free statewide civil legal help for people with low incomes, including expungement of Maryland state cases; intake 1-888-465-2468.
Before you file
- You can ask a background screening company for the information it has on you, and the CFPB keeps a list of consumer reporting companies, including employment screening companies, with their contact details.20,21,22
- The FCRA's seven-year limit does not apply to criminal convictions, so under federal law a conviction can show up on a background report no matter how old it is.23,24
This page explains Maryland's rules in general terms from the law and official court sources. It isn't legal advice, and laws change. A legal aid office or the court's self-help center can tell you whether your own record qualifies.
Spot something out of date? Tell us at contact@secondchanceindex.com.
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "Can I clear my record in Maryland?" https://secondchanceindex.com/record-clearing/maryland, checked October 30, 2026.
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on October 30, 2026.
- Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-105
- Criminal Procedure § 10-105.1Maryland General Assembly
- Criminal Procedure § 10-112Maryland General Assembly
- ExpungementMaryland Judiciary
- Which records can be expunged?Maryland People's Law Library (Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library)
- Cannabis expungement tip sheetMaryland Judiciary
- HB 187 (2026), Chapter 466: Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without FindingMaryland General Assembly
- Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-110
- Fiscal and Policy Note, SB 432 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025), Third Reader - RevisedMaryland Department of Legislative Services
- SB 432 (2025): Expungement Reform Act of 2025Maryland General Assembly
- Md. Code, Crim. Proc. §§ 10-301 to 10-306
- Shielding your convictions from the public: the Maryland Second Chance ActMaryland People's Law Library (Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library)
- SB 483 (2026): Automated Shielding (Clean Slate Act of 2026)Maryland General Assembly
- HB 360 (2026): Automated Expungement (Clean Slate Act of 2026)Maryland General Assembly
- Criminal Procedure § 10-109Maryland General Assembly
- Labor and Employment § 3-1501Maryland General Assembly
- Labor and Employment § 3-1502Maryland General Assembly
- Labor and Employment § 3-1503Maryland General Assembly
- Expungement (flyer, 7.15.2025)Maryland Legal Aid
- List of consumer reporting companiesConsumer Financial Protection Bureau
- What Employment Background Screening Companies Need to Know About the Fair Credit Reporting ActFederal Trade Commission
- Employer Background Checks and Your RightsFederal Trade Commission
- 15 U.S. Code § 1681c - Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reportsLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (U.S. Code text)
- Advisory Opinion to Nadell (12-10-98)Federal Trade Commission (staff advisory opinion)