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Expungement, sealing, or filing in Rhode Island

Can I clear my record in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island lets people ask a judge to expunge convictions: one misdemeanor after 5 years, one felony after 10, up to five misdemeanors after 10, and, since June 22, 2026, two to four felonies after 15 years if you have no conviction for a crime of violence or another listed offense.

Limited automatic clearing

How did your case end?

Pick the one that matches. We'll show the routes Rhode Island law offers for it, with the wait and the cost.

Pick an answer above to see your routes, waits and costs.

At a glance

Crimes of violence are excluded and there can be no arrests in the waiting period. Completed deferred sentences can be expunged right away. Some records clear on their own: District Court cases dismissed under Rule 48(a) since 2023 are sealed automatically, filed complaints are expunged when the filing period ends, and decriminalized marijuana possession records were to be automatically expunged by July 1, 2024. Other dismissals and acquittals are sealed by motion.1,2,3,4

Checked October 22, 2026 against 34 sources, starting with Rhode Island law, then by a second reader.

What it's called
Expungement, sealing, or filing1,2,3
Automatic clearing
Limited18,20,21
DUI or DWI
Sometimes3,4,6
Filing fee
No filing fee1,2,3
Fee waiver
Available1,2,3

Expungement

Expungement of convictions by motion

Expungement seals and keeps the records and removes them from active files (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-1). The court orders all records of the conviction expunged and all index references removed from public inspection, and sends the order to agencies holding the records (§ 12-1.3-3(c)). 'Records' include court records, state and local police records, the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and probation records (§ 12-1.3-1). You are released from the penalties and disabilities of the conviction, although it can be counted as a prior conviction if you are sentenced for a later crime (§ 12-1.3-4(a)). On applications for jobs, licenses and other privileges, and as a witness, you may say you have never been convicted of the crime, except when applying for a law enforcement agency position, bar admission, a teaching or coaching certificate, or to operate or work at an early childhood education facility (§ 12-1.3-4(b)).1,2,3,4

What it's for: Misdemeanor and felony convictions (including probation) for people with one conviction, up to five misdemeanors, or, since June 22, 2026, two to four felonies with no crime of violence or other listed offense on the record.

Who can use it

  • Single conviction (the statute's 'first offender'): your only conviction or probation is the one you want expunged, with no pending charges (§§ 12-1.3-1, 12-1.3-2(a)). A misdemeanor can be expunged 5 years after you complete the sentence; a felony, 10 years after.
  • Multiple misdemeanors: more than one but fewer than six misdemeanor convictions, 10 years after you complete your last sentence (§ 12-1.3-2). Before June 22, 2026 this route required no felony conviction at all; the 2026 amendment rewords it to bar a felony 'which is a crime of violence or other prohibited offenses' (P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172). It isn't settled whether this now lets someone with another kind of felony use the misdemeanor route: the court forms (revised February 2025) still say you must not have been convicted of a felony, and we found no court or agency guidance on the new wording.
  • Multiple felonies (new June 22, 2026): more than one but fewer than five felony convictions, 15 years after you complete your last sentence, if you have never been convicted of a crime of violence or an 'other prohibited offense' (P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172). The law doesn't say how misdemeanor convictions on the same record affect this route.
  • In the waiting period before you file (5 years for a misdemeanor, 10 for a felony or multiple misdemeanors, 15 for multiple felonies), you must not have been convicted of or arrested for any felony or misdemeanor, you must have no pending criminal case, and you must show good character; the 2026 law changed 'good moral character' to 'good character' (§ 12-1.3-3(b)(1); P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172). For a single conviction you also can't owe court fines or costs unless the court reduced or waived them, and the Judicial Records Center says all fines, fees, costs, restitution and assessments must be paid or waived before an expungement is completed.
  • The judge must find you are rehabilitated and that expungement is consistent with the public interest. Since June 2026 the judge may consider your background, employment and community ties, and no single factor decides the case (§ 12-1.3-3(b)(2)).
  • Prostitution or loitering for prostitution convictions, probation or filings can be expunged 1 year after completing the sentence, even if you have other convictions (§ 11-34.1-5).

What doesn't qualify

  • Crimes of violence: murder, manslaughter, first-degree arson, kidnapping with intent to extort, robbery, larceny from the person, first- and second-degree sexual assault, first- and second-degree child molestation, assault with intent to murder, rob or commit first-degree sexual assault, burglary, and entering a dwelling with intent to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault or larceny (§§ 12-1.3-1(1), 12-1.3-2(a)).
  • For the multiple-felony route, any conviction for an 'other prohibited offense' also disqualifies you. The list: assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling, assaults causing serious injury to older adults, people with severe impairments or children, child cruelty, neglect, abuse and endangerment, criminal offenses against a minor as defined in § 11-37.1-2(f), weapons offenses (Chapter 11-47), human trafficking (Chapter 11-67.1), leaving the scene of an injury crash, and driving to endanger or DUI resulting in death (P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172).
  • Domestic violence offenses (Chapter 12-29), DUI (§ 31-27-2) and refusal to submit to a chemical test (§ 31-27-2.1) can't be expunged through the multiple-misdemeanor or multiple-felony routes; they can be expunged only under the single-conviction ('first offender') route (§ 12-1.3-2; Public Defender).
  • Six or more misdemeanor convictions, or five or more felony convictions.
  • Anyone arrested for, or convicted of, any felony or misdemeanor during the lookback period before filing (§ 12-1.3-3(b)(1)).
  • After a successful expungement under the multiple-felony route, you can't use it again for remaining felonies (P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172).

How long you have to wait

RecordWaiting period
Single misdemeanor (only conviction)5 years after completing the sentenceNo arrests or convictions in the 5 years before filing (§§ 12-1.3-2, 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(i)).
Single felony (only conviction)10 years after completing the sentenceNo arrests or convictions in the 10 years before filing; crimes of violence are excluded.
2 to 5 misdemeanors10 years after completing the last sentenceNo arrests or convictions in the 10 years before filing; domestic violence, DUI and refusal convictions are excluded from this route.
2 to 4 felonies (no crime of violence or other prohibited offense)15 years after completing the last sentenceNew route from P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172, effective June 22, 2026. No arrests or convictions in the 15 years before filing.
Prostitution or loitering for prostitution1 year after completing the sentence§ 11-34.1-5.

How to apply

  1. Get your official BCI record from the Attorney General's office in Cranston and confirm what is on it (Public Defender).
  2. Get certified copies of older cases from the Judicial Records Center in Pawtucket if needed.
  3. Fill out the court's Motion to Expunge or Seal Record and the affidavit for your situation, and sign the affidavit before a notary or clerk.
  4. File the motion with the clerk of the court where you were convicted. The clerk sets a hearing date at least 10 days out.
  5. Give notice of the hearing date to the Attorney General's office and the police department that brought the charge at least 10 days before the hearing (§ 12-1.3-3(a)).
  6. Go to the hearing with the proposed order. If the motion is granted and all court debts are paid or waived, the clerk prepares certified copies of the order; deliver them to BCI and the police department that charged you (Judicial Records Center).
Where to file
The court where the conviction took place (District, Superior or Family Court).
Cost
The Public Defender says there is no filing fee for a motion to expunge, and the Superior Court fee schedule (revised September 2026) lists none. Costs come from getting records: the Public Defender lists $5 for your BCI record at the Attorney General's office (waived for people 62 or older or with a disability) and $3 per case for certified copies from the Judicial Records Center for cases more than 3 years old. All court fines, fees, costs, assessments and restitution must be paid, or reduced or waived by the court, before the expungement is completed (§ 12-1.3-2(a); Judicial Records Center).
If you can't pay
You can ask to file without paying. There's no filing fee to waive. The court can reduce or waive outstanding court-imposed fines, fees and costs that would otherwise block expungement (§§ 12-1.3-2(a), 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(i)).
Court hearing
Yes
How long it takes
Notice must be given at least 10 days before the hearing. The Public Defender says the process can take several months and suggests checking your BCI record a month or two after the order.

Official forms

Expungement

Expungement after a deferred sentence

Same effect as other expungements under Chapter 12-1.3: records sealed and removed from public inspection, and you may generally say you were never convicted (§§ 12-1.3-3(c), 12-1.3-4).3,4,15

What it's for: Superior Court cases where you pleaded guilty or no contest and the court deferred sentencing under a written deferral agreement.

Who can use it

  • You pleaded guilty or nolo contendere and the Superior Court formally deferred sentence under a written deferral agreement (§ 12-19-19(a)).
  • You completed the deferment period, and after a hearing the court finds you complied with every term, including full payment of fines, fees, costs, assessments and restitution (§§ 12-19-19(c), 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(ii)).
  • You have no pending criminal case and have shown good character (§ 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(ii); P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172 removed the word 'moral').
  • You don't have to wait the usual 5 or 10 years; you can file once the deferment is completed (§ 12-1.3-2).

What doesn't qualify

  • Anyone who has been convicted of a crime of violence (§ 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(ii)).

How long you have to wait

RecordWaiting period
Deferred sentenceWhen the deferment period is completedDeferral agreements can run up to 5 years (§ 12-19-19(a)).

How to apply

  1. Use the Superior Court Motion and Affidavit to Expunge or Seal Record - Felony and complete Part Three (deferred sentence).
  2. File in the court that deferred your sentence, give the Attorney General and the police department at least 10 days' notice, and attend the hearing.
Where to file
The Superior Court that entered the deferral agreement.
Cost
The Public Defender says there is no filing fee for a motion to expunge, and the Superior Court fee schedule (revised September 2026) lists none. Costs come from getting records: the Public Defender lists $5 for your BCI record at the Attorney General's office (waived for people 62 or older or with a disability) and $3 per case for certified copies from the Judicial Records Center for cases more than 3 years old. All court fines, fees, costs, assessments and restitution must be paid, or reduced or waived by the court, before the expungement is completed (§ 12-1.3-2(a); Judicial Records Center).
If you can't pay
You can ask to file without paying. There's no filing fee to waive. The court can reduce or waive outstanding court-imposed fines, fees and costs that would otherwise block expungement (§§ 12-1.3-2(a), 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(i)).
Court hearing
Yes

Official forms

Expungement

Automatic expungement of a filed complaint

If no action is taken on a complaint during the filing period, it is automatically expunged and no criminal record results, although a guilty plea or finding can still be used in a civil lawsuit for a tort (§ 12-10-12(c)). Identification records are destroyed and records sealed when the filing period expires (§ 12-1-12(b)).13,16,17

What it's for: Misdemeanor complaints the judge placed 'on file' with conditions, after the filing period ends without a violation.

Who can use it

  • A judge placed the complaint on file (allowed for complaints other than felonies, for people with no felony conviction, and not for private complaints) (§ 12-10-12(a)).
  • During the filing period you kept the peace, were of good behavior and paid all court-imposed fees and costs unless reduced or waived (§ 12-10-12(b)).

What doesn't qualify

  • Domestic violence complaints that were filed: records are expunged without a motion only after 3 years with no new domestic violence charge (or an acquittal or dismissal of one) (§ 12-10-12(d)).
  • If the court finds a violation during the filing period, it can revive the case or sentence you (§ 12-10-12(b)-(c)).

How long you have to wait

RecordWaiting period
Filed misdemeanor complaintEnd of the filing period set by the judgeThe Public Defender describes the wait as one full year and says to follow up to confirm the expungement happened.
Filed domestic violence complaint3 years after the filing date§ 12-10-12(d).

Happens automatically. By statute the complaint is 'automatically expunged' if no action is taken during the filing period (§ 12-10-12(c)). The Public Defender says it is supposed to be automatic but advises checking that it was done.

How to apply

  1. Nothing to file if the filing period ends without a violation.
  2. Check the Judiciary's public portal or your BCI record afterward; if the case still appears, ask the clerk or file a motion.
Where to file
The court where the complaint was filed.
Cost
No fee for automatic expungement.
Court hearing
No

Sealing

Sealing after dismissal, acquittal or no charges

Fingerprints, photographs and other identification records taken after the arrest are destroyed, BCI records are sealed, and the court records are sealed (§§ 12-1-12(a), 12-1-12.1). For an arrest the police find was wrongful, all arrest records are sealed and identifying information destroyed, and you may deny the arrest happened for any purpose, including job and license applications (§ 12-1-12.2).17,18,19

What it's for: Cases that ended in dismissal, acquittal, a no true bill or no information, and wrongful arrests with no charges.

Who can use it

  • District Court cases dismissed under Rule 48(a) on or after January 1, 2023 are sealed automatically 10 to 20 days after the dismissal, including BCI records (§ 12-1-12.1(a)(1)).
  • District Court Rule 48(a) dismissals before January 1, 2023 are sealed administratively by the clerk when you ask; the order goes to BCI within 5 days and must be carried out within 90 days (§ 12-1-12.1(a)(2)).
  • Anyone acquitted or otherwise exonerated of all counts in a case, including other dismissals, a no true bill or no information, may file a motion to seal (§ 12-1-12.1(b)). The Public Defender says a not-guilty verdict can be sealed regardless of earlier felony convictions.
  • People arrested by mistake or without probable cause and never charged: the police must seal and destroy the records within 60 days of finding the arrest was wrongful, regardless of any other record (§ 12-1-12.2).

What doesn't qualify

  • A case where only some counts ended in dismissal or acquittal: the motion route covers people exonerated 'of all counts' (§ 12-1-12.1(b)).
  • Domestic violence cases that were filed must wait 3 years from the filing date before sealing or expungement (§§ 12-1-12(c), 12-1-12.1(c)).

How long you have to wait

RecordWaiting period
District Court Rule 48(a) dismissal on or after January 1, 202310 to 20 days, then automatic
Acquittal, other dismissal, no true bill or no informationNoneFile a motion; the clerk seals the court records within 45 days of the order (§ 12-1-12.1(b)(3)).

Some records clear automatically. Automatic for District Court Rule 48(a) dismissals on or after January 1, 2023 (P.L. 2022, ch. 253, timing shortened to 10-20 days by P.L. 2023, ch. 154), and for wrongful arrests once police make that finding (§ 12-1-12.2). Older 48(a) dismissals are sealed by the clerk on request; other non-convictions need a motion.

How to apply

  1. For a District Court 48(a) dismissal on or after January 1, 2023, nothing to file; check the public portal or your BCI record to confirm.
  2. For an older 48(a) dismissal, ask the District Court clerk to seal it administratively.
  3. For an acquittal or other dismissal, use the court's Motion to Expunge or Seal Record (Part One of the affidavit), give the Attorney General and the police department at least 10 days' notice of the hearing, and attend (§ 12-1-12.1(b)).
Where to file
The court where the case was heard.
Cost
No filing fee for the motion, according to the Public Defender; automatic sealing is free.
Court hearing
Sometimes
How long it takes
Automatic sealing 10 to 20 days after a Rule 48(a) dismissal; for motions, sealing within 45 days of the order.

Official forms

Expungement

Automatic expungement of marijuana possession records

The court orders the records expunged and removed from public inspection and sends the order to the Attorney General and the police (§ 12-1.3-5(f)). The expunged conviction can't be counted as a prior when sentencing a later offense, and you may say you were never convicted, with the same exceptions as other expungements (law enforcement jobs, bar admission, teaching or coaching certificates, early childhood education) (§ 12-1.3-5(k)-(l)).22,23

What it's for: Civil violations and misdemeanor or felony convictions for possession only of marijuana in amounts later decriminalized by the 2022 Cannabis Act.

Who can use it

  • A prior civil violation, misdemeanor or felony conviction for possession only of marijuana that was later decriminalized (§ 12-1.3-5(a)).
  • 'Conviction' includes a nolo contendere plea with a jail or suspended sentence, and a deferred sentence agreement that hasn't been completed (§ 12-1.3-5(a)).
  • If the amount isn't stated in the record, the court presumes it was 2 ounces or less (§ 12-1.3-5(d)).
  • Other convictions, crimes of violence, pending cases and unpaid court debts don't block it; unpaid fines and costs on the eligible charge are waived (§ 12-1.3-5(g)).

What doesn't qualify

  • Selling, delivering or manufacturing marijuana, according to the Judiciary's description of the Chief Justice's executive order, which covers possession convictions of people 18 or older and civil violations of people 21 or older.

How long you have to wait

RecordWaiting period
Decriminalized marijuana possessionNoneThe statute required all eligible records to be expunged before July 1, 2024 (§ 12-1.3-5(b)).

Happens automatically. The Cannabis Act (P.L. 2022, ch. 31-32, effective May 25, 2022) requires automatic expungement under a procedure set by the Chief Justice, with all eligible records expunged before July 1, 2024 (§ 12-1.3-5(b)). The Judiciary says Executive Order 2023-02 set two phases: cases where possession was the only charge (more than 23,000 expunged before April 30, 2023) and cases with multiple charges, planned for completion by July 1, 2024. You can also request expedited expungement in writing (§ 12-1.3-5(c)).

How to apply

  1. Nothing to file. Check the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal; expunged cases no longer appear.
  2. If an eligible case still appears, submit a Notice for Expedited Marijuana Possession Expungement to the court that heard the case, in person or by email to that court's help desk (Superior Court, District Court divisions or Traffic Tribunal).
Where to file
Automatic through the Superior Court, District Court and Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.
Cost
The automatic process is free, and people who were incarcerated for marijuana possession have all court costs waived (§ 12-1.3-5(e); Judiciary).
If you can't pay
You can ask to file without paying. Outstanding fines, fees and costs on the eligible charge are waived (§ 12-1.3-5(g)).
Court hearing
No
How long it takes
Statutory deadline: before July 1, 2024.

Expungement

Expungement of an offense that was later decriminalized

The court orders expungement without cost once it finds all conditions of the original sentence were completed and all related fines, fees and costs were paid (§ 12-1.3-3(e)).3,4,6

What it's for: Convictions for conduct that the General Assembly decriminalized after the conviction.

Who can use it

  • The offense was decriminalized after the date of your conviction; the usual single-conviction limits and waiting periods don't apply (§ 12-1.3-2).
  • You completed all conditions of the original sentence and paid all related fines, fees and costs (§ 12-1.3-3(e)).

What doesn't qualify

  • Offenses that remain crimes under current law.

How long you have to wait

RecordWaiting period
Decriminalized offenseNone once the sentence is completed and paid

How to apply

  1. File the Motion to Expunge or Seal Record in the court where you were convicted, using the decriminalized-offense part of the affidavit (an attorney filing the motion doesn't need the affidavit).
  2. The court may ask you to show that the conviction would be a decriminalized offense under current law, for example with a signed affidavit (§ 12-1.3-3(e)).
Where to file
The court where the original conviction took place.
Cost
The court orders this expungement 'without cost to the petitioner' (§ 12-1.3-3(e)).
Court hearing
Yes

Official forms

Automatic clearing

Rhode Island has no broad Clean Slate law; a Clean Slate Act bill (2026-H 7508) was introduced but didn't become law in 2026. Several kinds of records clear automatically: District Court cases dismissed under Rule 48(a) on or after January 1, 2023 are sealed 10 to 20 days after dismissal, including BCI records (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1(a), added by P.L. 2022, ch. 253 and amended by P.L. 2023, ch. 154); filed complaints are automatically expunged if no action is taken during the filing period (§ 12-10-12(c)); and possession-only marijuana records decriminalized by the 2022 Cannabis Act were to be automatically expunged before July 1, 2024 (§ 12-1.3-5). Convictions otherwise require a motion and a hearing.16,18,20,21,22,23,24

DUI and DWI records in Rhode Island

A DUI conviction (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2) can be expunged only under the single-conviction route (the statute's 'first offender'), meaning it is your only conviction or probation: 5 years after completing the sentence for a misdemeanor DUI, with no arrests or convictions in those 5 years (§§ 12-1.3-2, 12-1.3-3). DUI and refusal to submit to a chemical test (§ 31-27-2.1) are excluded from the multiple-misdemeanor route and from the multiple-felony route added on June 22, 2026, and DUI resulting in death (§ 31-27-2.2) is an 'other prohibited offense' under the 2026 law (P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172). The Public Defender's guide says DUI convictions aren't eligible unless it is the person's only conviction.3,4,6,13,25

Arrests and dismissed charges

District Court cases dismissed under Rule 48(a) on or after January 1, 2023 are sealed automatically 10 to 20 days later; older 48(a) dismissals are sealed by the clerk on request (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1(a)). Other dismissals, acquittals on all counts, no true bills and no informations are sealed by motion, with 10 days' notice to the Attorney General and the police; the clerk seals the court records within 45 days of the order, and identification records such as fingerprints and photographs are destroyed (§§ 12-1-12, 12-1-12.1(b)). Filed complaints are expunged automatically when the filing period ends without a violation (§ 12-10-12(c)). Police must seal records of a wrongful arrest with no charges within 60 days, and the person may deny the arrest for any purpose (§ 12-1-12.2). The Public Defender notes that dismissed and acquitted cases stay on your BCI record until they are sealed.13,16,17,18,19

Marijuana records

The Rhode Island Cannabis Act (P.L. 2022, ch. 31-32, effective May 25, 2022) requires automatic expungement of prior civil violations and misdemeanor or felony convictions for possession only of marijuana that has since been decriminalized, with all eligible records expunged before July 1, 2024 (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-5). Prior records, crimes of violence, pending cases and unpaid court debts don't block it, the amount is presumed to be 2 ounces or less if the record doesn't say, and outstanding fines on the eligible charge are waived. The Judiciary reports that more than 23,000 single-charge cases were expunged before April 30, 2023, and multi-charge cases were planned for completion by July 1, 2024. If a case still shows on the public portal, you can file a Notice for Expedited Marijuana Possession Expungement with the court that heard it. Other offenses that were decriminalized after conviction can be expunged by motion without cost (§§ 12-1.3-2, 12-1.3-3(e)).3,4,22,23

What employers can see afterward

After expungement you may state on job and license applications that you have never been convicted of the crime, except when applying for law enforcement agency positions, bar admission, teaching or coaching certificates, or to operate or work at an early childhood education facility (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-4(b)); record custodians can't disclose expunged records except to listed parties (§ 12-1.3-4(c)). Rhode Island's fair-chance law covers the state, cities and towns, and any employer with four or more employees: they may not ask on an application, or otherwise, whether an applicant has ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime, except for law enforcement positions, jobs where law creates a mandatory or presumptive disqualification for specific convictions, or jobs requiring a fidelity bond; they may ask about convictions at the first interview or later (§§ 28-5-7(7), 28-5-6). The Public Defender summarizes this as: employers can't ask about arrests, and can't ask about convictions on the initial application.5,13,26,27

Free help in Rhode Island

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.30,31,32
  • 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.33,34

This page explains Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island?" https://secondchanceindex.com/record-clearing/rhode-island, checked October 22, 2026.

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Sources

Each source was opened and checked on October 22, 2026.

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1 to 12-1.3-4, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172
  2. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-1, Definitions (online text not yet updated for P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  3. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-2, Motion for expungement (online text not yet updated for P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  4. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-3, Motion for expungement — Notice — Hearing — Criteria for granting (online text not yet updated for P.L. 2026, ch. 171-172)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  5. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-4, Effect of expungement of recordsState of Rhode Island General Assembly
  6. P.L. 2026, ch. 171 (2026-H 7079 Substitute A), Expungement of Criminal Records, enacted June 22, 2026State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  7. P.L. 2026, ch. 172 (2026-S 3036 Substitute A), Expungement of Criminal Records, enacted June 22, 2026State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  8. Assembly passes Craven, Bissaillon expungement expansion bill (June 9, 2026)Rhode Island Legislative Press Bureau
  9. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-34.1-5, Expungement of certain criminal records (commercial sexual activity)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  10. Judicial Records Center: Expungement InformationRhode Island Judiciary
  11. DC-33 District Court Instructions, Motion to Expunge or Seal Record and Affidavit (rev. Feb. 2025)Rhode Island District Court
  12. Superior-55 Instructions, Motion and Affidavit to Expunge or Seal Record - Felony (rev. Feb. 2025)Rhode Island Superior Court
  13. Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records Resource GuideRhode Island Public Defender
  14. Superior Court Filing Fees (revised September 2026)Rhode Island Judiciary
  15. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-19-19, 12-1.3-2, 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(ii)
  16. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-10-12, 12-1-12(b)
  17. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12, Destruction or sealing of records of persons acquitted or otherwise exoneratedState of Rhode Island General Assembly
  18. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1-12, 12-1-12.1, 12-1-12.2
  19. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.2, Sealing of arrest records for wrongful arrestState of Rhode Island General Assembly
  20. P.L. 2022, ch. 253 (2022-H 7354 Substitute A), automatic sealing of Rule 48(a) dismissalsState of Rhode Island General Assembly
  21. P.L. 2023, ch. 154 (2023-S 0906 Substitute A), automatic sealing 10 to 20 days after Rule 48(a) dismissalState of Rhode Island General Assembly
  22. R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-5
  23. Rhode Island Judiciary Completes Phase One of Marijuana Expungement ProcessRhode Island Judiciary
  24. 2026-H 7508, The Rhode Island Clean Slate Act (introduced February 4, 2026)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  25. R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2, Driving under influence of liquor or drugsState of Rhode Island General Assembly
  26. R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-7, Unlawful employment practices (subdivision (7), criminal record inquiries)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  27. R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-6, Definitions ('employer': four or more employees)State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  28. P.L. 2024, ch. 386 (2024-H 8342), Expungement of Criminal Records, enacted June 26, 2024State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  29. Media Advisory: Sen. Euer to host expungement clinic with Public Defender's office (Aug. 3, 2026)Rhode Island Legislative Press Bureau
  30. List of consumer reporting companiesConsumer Financial Protection Bureau
  31. What Employment Background Screening Companies Need to Know About the Fair Credit Reporting ActFederal Trade Commission
  32. Employer Background Checks and Your RightsFederal Trade Commission
  33. 15 U.S. Code § 1681c - Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reportsLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (U.S. Code text)
  34. Advisory Opinion to Nadell (12-10-98)Federal Trade Commission (staff advisory opinion)