The 2026 Second Chance Index
How North Carolina ranks for second chances
North Carolina ranks 22nd of 51 in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 68 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 6.5 points above the median state (61.5).
Built from North Carolina's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
68 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 42 / 50
- Voting rights
- 14 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 12 / 20
Every point North Carolina earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about North Carolina, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
42 of 50 points| What we score | North Carolina | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Limited automatic clearing | 10/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | Yes | 12/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | Yes | 4/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | No | 0/3 |
Voting rights
14 of 30 points| What we score | North Carolina | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | After the sentence | 14/30 |
Where the felony line falls
12 of 20 points| What we score | North Carolina | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | More than $1,000 | 5/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | From the 4th offense | 7/10 |
North Carolina's felony classes and theft line, with sources
Where the 32 missing points are
- 16When the vote comes back after a felony: After the sentence
- 5Some records clear automatically: Limited automatic clearing
- 5Theft becomes a felony at: More than $1,000
- 3A DUI conviction can be cleared: No
- 3Repeat DUI becomes a felony: From the 4th offense
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean North Carolina offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near North Carolina
- #20Oregon70
- #21New Hampshire69
- #22North Carolina68
- #23Montana67.5
- #24Illinois66
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How North Carolina ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/north-carolina, checked October 29, 2026.