Criminal Records State Expungement Laws: Record Sealing and Modification

In the United states, there are two types of laws which address how criminal records, sealings and other types of relief to clear a record may be accomplished. Many states have laws that govern whether and how criminal records may be cleared and removed under state law.

Explanation of state expungement and record sealing laws

In circumstances where a state does not have laws specifically address expungements, sealing or other types of relief to clear a record, such relief may be accomplished by filing under law and legal protection of and under the Constitution (the 4th, 5th and 14th Amendments.) Below is a list of each US State and expungement laws, sealing laws and record modification laws that apply. Please note that, as laws change over the course of time, this list may not be complete and you must check with your local government or an experienced expungements lawyer to confirm current expungement, sealing and record modification law.

State Expungement and Record Sealing and Modification Laws, by State

ALABAMA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy Of your Criminal Record: 32-2-60 through 32-2-62
Right to Challenge (information on your criminal record): 41-9-645
Judicial Review of Challenged Information: 41-9-645
Purging, (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: 41-9-645

ALASKA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 12.62.160(b)(11)
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 12.62.170(b)
Sealing Conviction and Non-conviction Information:12.62.180(b)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Conviction Information: 12.62.190 (same for Non-conviction)

ARIZONA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 41-1750.G.5; Reg. 13-1 -08
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 41-2203A.5; Reg. 13-1-08D
Sealing Conviction Information: 13-907 (For Non-conviction: 13-4051)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Conviction Information: 8-247

ARKANSAS - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 12-12-211
Right to Challenge (information on your criminal record): 12-12-211; 12-12-1013
Sealing Conviction Information: None
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: 12-12-207(i)

CALIFORNIA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: Pen. Code 13323;, 11122; 11124
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): Pen. Code 13324; 11126
Sealing Conviction Information: Pen. Code 1203.45 (Non-conviction: Pen. Code 851.8)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: H&S Code 11361.5; Pen. Code 851.8 (Conviction: Same)

COLORADO - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Make Copy of Criminal records 24:-72-301:24-72-306
Right to Challenge Information in a criminal record: 24-72-307
Sealing Conviction 24-72-308
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Conviction Information: 24-72-308(8)

CONNECTICUT - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 54-142k
Right To Challenge (information in your criminal record): 54-1421
Sealing Conviction Information: 54-142a; 54-142b (Non-conviction: 29-16; 54-142a)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Conviction Information: 54-142a (Non-conviction: 54-142a)

DELAWARE - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 11-8513
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 11-8506(e); 11-1448A 11-8560
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 11-4372
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Conviction Information: 11-8506(c) (Non-conviction: Same)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA & Federal Zones - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 1-1522; 4-135; 1 DCMR 1004.1
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): None
Sealing Conviction Information: 33-541(e); SCR Crim 118; Crim. 32(g).(Non-conviction): SCR Crim 118)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Conviction Information: None

FLORIDA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record and 943.056; Reg. 11C-8
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): (Same)
Sealing Conviction Information: 943.059; Reg. 11C-7 (Non-conviction: Same)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging): 943.0585; Ileg. 11C-7 (Non-conviction: same)

GEORGIA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 35-3-37(b), & Reg. 140-2-. 10
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): Same as above
Judicial Review of Challenged Information: Same as
Sealing (Under Court Order) Non-conviction Information: 42-8-65(a)

HAWAII - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 92E-7; 846-14
Right to Challenge (information in a record): 92E-11; 846-14
Sealing Conviction Information: (Non-conviction: 831-3.2)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: 831-3.2; 852-1 Ce)

ILLINOIS - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 20-2630/7
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 20/2630 / 7; 20-3930 / 7(h)
Sealing Non-conviction: 20-2630/5
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: 20-2630/5; 20-2605/55(a). (Conviction: 7 30-5/5-6-3. 1(f))

INDIANA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 5-2-5-8
Right to Challenge (information in record): 5-2-5-8(b), 5-2-5-10(b)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 35-38-5-1 (conviction: 35-38-5)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Information: 35-38-5-1

IOWA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: Regs. 692.5; 661-11.4; 661-11.5
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 692.5; Regs. 661-11.4
Sealing Conviction Information: 907.9
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: 692.17; 692.16 (Conviction: 907.9)

KANSAS - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & take notes about what is in your Criminal Record: 224709; 22-4711; Reg. 10-13-2
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 224709; 224711
Sealing Conviction Information: 22-4619; 12-4516
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: None (Use Civil Remedy: 224707)

KENTUCKY - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 17. 150; 61-874; 61-884; Reg. 502 KAR 30:070
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): Reg. 502 KAR 30:070
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 17.142
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: Use 61.882; 17.157; or U.SC. Title 42 Sec 1983 aka the Civil Rights Act

LOUISIANA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: Reg. LAC 1-18:3(9)
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 15:588; Reg. LAC 1-18:4
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 44.9 (conviction: same)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information LRS 15:586; 44:9

MAINE - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 16-620(1)
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 16-620(2),(3)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None (Use 25.1550, or U.S. 1983 Civil Rights Action)
Purging (Erasing, Expunging): None (Use 25-1550 or Judicial Review-16-620(4) or U.S. 1983 Civil Rights Action)

MARYLAND - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy: Reg. 12.15.01.05
Urging of Non-conviction(Expungement): 27-736; 27-737
Removal of Disqualifications (Restores 641; 27-735 through 741
Right to State Nonexistence of Record: (may say no record exists): 27-641; 27-739; 27-740
Civil Remedies: Reg. 12.15.01.10; 27-753

MASSACHUSETTS - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record): 6-175; Reg.803 CMR 6.02,6.05,6.06
Purging (Expungement) of Non-conviction Information: 6-175; Reg. 803 CMR 6.07(3)
Purging of Conviction Information: (same)
Sealing of Non-conviction Information: 276-bOA, B, C; Reg. 803 CMR 7.02
Sealing of Conviction Information: 94C-34; 127-152; 276-bOA, B, C; Reg. 803 CMR 7.02
Right to State Nonexistence of Record: 94C-34; 276-100A, C; 151B-4(a); 127-152
Civil Remedies: 6-177; 6-168; Reg. 803 CMR 6.07,6.08

MICHIGAN - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record):15.235; 15.233
Purging (erasure) of Non-conviction Information:28.243
Sealing of Non-conviction Information: 333.7411; 769.4a; 750.350a(4)
Sealing of Conviction Information: 780.623; 712A.18e
Right to State Nonexistence of Record: 37.2205a

MINNESOTA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record):13.04, Sub. 3
Purging of Non-conviction Information (erases record): 299C.11; 152.18
Purging of Conviction Information: 152.18; 364.04
Sealing of Non-conviction Information: 299C.11;152.18
Sealing of Conviction Information: 242.31; 364.04; 609.166 through 609. 168; 638.02, Subd. 3-5
Removal of Disqualifications (Restores Rights): 152.18; 242.31; 364.03

MISSISSIPPI - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record): 45-27-11
Purging (Erasing) Non-conviction Information: 45-27-9(2), (4)
Purging Conviction Information: 45-27-9(10); 45-27-11
Civil Remedies: Fed. Reg. 28, Part 20, and 1983 Civil Rights suit

MISSOURI - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record): Reg. CSR 30-3.070
Sealing of Non-conviction Information: 610. 100; 610.105; 610.120
Sealing of Conviction Information: 610. 106; 610.120
Right to State Nonexistence of Record: (may say no record exists): 610.110
Civil Remedies: Federal Regulation 28, Part 20, and 1983
Civil Rights suit for Deprivation of Civil Rights

MONTANA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record):44-5-214
Purging (Erasing) Non-conviction Information: 44-5-212; 44-5-202(8)
Purging Conviction Information: 44-5-2 12; 44-5-202(8)
Sealing of Non-conviction Information: 44-5-202(8)
Sealing of Conviction Information: 46-18-204
Civil Remedies: 44-2-205; 44-5-112

Nebraska - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record):29-3520; 29-3525
Right to Challenge (what is in your record): 29-3525;29-3526
Civil Remedies: 84-712.03; 29-3528
Other Civil Remedies: Federal Regulation 28, Part 20, and 1983 Civil Rights suit

NEVADA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy (of your record):179K 150
Purging (Erasing) Non-conviction Information:179A.075.2, and 179A.160
Purging Conviction Information: 179A.160.Sealing: 179.255; 179.275
Sealing Conviction Information: 453.336; 179.245; 179.255; 179.275
Civil Remedies: 179.230.
Other Civil Remedies: Federal Regulation 28, Part 20, and 1983
Civil Rights Action suit for Deprivation of Civil Rights by Persons Acting Under Color of Law

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copy: Reg. 3.B.9
Purging (Erasure) of Non-conviction Information: Reg. 3.D
Purging of Conviction Information: Reg. 3.D.
Sealing of Non-conviction Information: 651:5; 318-B:28-a
Removal of Disqualifications (Restores Rights): 651:5
Right to State Nonexistence of Record: 65 1:5

NEW JERSEY - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Challenge (your record): NJAC 13:59-1.8(B)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 2C:52-6; 2C:36A- 1
Sealing of Conviction Information: 20:52-2; 20:52-3; and 20:52-4,5
Removal of Disqualifications (Restores Rights): 20:52-27
Right to State Nonexistence of Record (may say no record exists): 20:52-27
Civil Remedies: 47:1A-4, 53:1-20

NEW MEXICO - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: 29-10-6; 29-10-8; 14-2-1; 14-2A-1; 32A-2-26; 32A-3B-22
Right to Challenge (information in your criminal record): 29-10-8
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 30-31-28; 32A-2-26
Purging (Erasing, Expunging) Non-conviction Information: 30-31-28; 32A-3B-26; 32A-3B-21; 32A-20-1; 32A-2-16

NEW YORK - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Copy of your Criminal Record: Reg. 9 NYCRR 6050.1
Purging Conviction Information; CPL 160.55; Family Court Act 354.1 (Non-conviction: CPL 160.50, FCA 354.1)
Sealing Conviction Information: CPL 160.55(1.Xc);CPL 720.15; 3B-26; 32A-3B-21; 32A-20-1; 32A-2-16
(Non-conviction : CPL 160.50(1.Xc); CPL 170.56;CPL 720.15)

NORTH CAROLINA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Notes of your Record: REG. NOAC 4F.0404
Purging Conviction Information; 90-96; 15A-145; REG. NOAC 4F.0501 & 02 (Non-conviction: 15A-146; REG. NCAC 4F.0501 & 02)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None
Civil Remedies: Reg.: NCAC 4G.0201

NORTH DAKOTA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right To Inspect & Make Notes of your Record: 12-60.3 & Administrative Rules
Purging Conviction Information: None
(Non-conviction: Rule of Judicial Conduct B Rule 6)
Expungement Non-conviction Information: Rule 6 E (1)
Sealing Conviction Information: None

OHIO - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Make Notes of your Records: None
Purging Conviction Information: None
Purging Non-conviction Information: 109.60, 2951.04.1
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: 2953.32

OKLAHOMA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record: 51-24A.5
Purging Conviction Information: 22-991C; 63-2410
Purging Non-conviction Information: 22-18; 22-991C;22-305.4
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 22-18 & 19; 22-991C; 63-2410
Sealing Conviction Information: (Same as above)

OREGON - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record:181.540(1.)(b)
Purging Conviction Information; 137.225
Purging Non-conviction Information: Same as above
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 137.225(1.Xb)
Sealing Conviction Information: 137.225(1.Xa)

PENNSYLVANIA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record: 18-9151, 9152; & Reg. 195.4
Purging Conviction Information; 18-9122
Purging Non-conviction Information: Same
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None

PUERTO RICO - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record: ACT 4(m); Reg. 9(a)
Purging Conviction Information; ACT 8
Purging Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None

RHODE ISLAND - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record: 38-2-3m), & Reg. 9(a)
Purging Conviction Information: None Purging Non-conviction Information: 12-1-12
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: 12-1.3-2
Sealing Conviction Information: None

SOUTH CAROLINA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record: Reg. 73-25
Purging Conviction Information: Reg. 73-27, 22-5-910
Purging Non-conviction Information: 17- 1-40, Reg. 73-27
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None

SOUTH DAKOTA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain a Copy of Record: 1-11-13; 23-5-13; 23-6-9; Reg. 2:02:03:01
Purging Conviction Information: 23-6-8.1; Reg. 2:02:03:02 and 05
Purging Non-conviction Information: Same
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: 23A-27-14 and 17

TENNESSEE - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 40-15-106; 40-32-101; 40-35-313; 10-7-506, 507; Regs. 1395-1-1-.08(1)(k)
Purging Conviction Information: None (See 40-35-313(b))
Purging Non-conviction Information: 40-15-106; 40-32-101
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None Sealing Conviction Information: 23A-27-14 and 17

TEXAS - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 40-15-106; 40-32-101; Reg. 37 TAO 27.1; TROS 6252-17a
Purging Conviction Information: None
Purging Non-conviction Information: Code Of Criminal Procedure Article 55.01
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None

UTAH - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 53-5-214(7)
Purging Conviction Information: 77-18-2
Purging Non-conviction Information: 77-18-2; 53-5-214(4)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 77-18-2(2Xa) Sealing Conviction Information: 77-18-2(3)

VERMONT - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: Reg. 8.10
Purging Conviction Information: Reg. 10.10
Purging Non-conviction Information: Reg. 10.10
Sealing Non-conviction Information: Reg. 10.10
Sealing Conviction Information: Reg. 10.10

VIRGINIA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 19.2-389; 9-192, 193; Reg. 2.3, 2.4
Purging Conviction Information: None
Purging Non-conviction Information: 9-190
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 9-190; 19.2-392.2; Reg. 2.6
Sealing Conviction Information: Civil Remedy: 2.1-346.1, 9-194

VIRGIN ISLANDS - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: T.3-881(b)
Purging Conviction Information: None
Purging Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: Reg. 10.10

WASHINGTON - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 10.97.080; Reg. WAC 446-20-090
Purging Conviction Information:9.94A.230;10.97.060
Purging Non-conviction Information: 10.97.060; Reg. WAC 446-20-110
Sealing Non-conviction Information: 13.50.050
Sealing Conviction Information: 13.50.050

WEST VIRGINIA - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 29B-1-3
Purging Conviction Information: None
Purging Non-conviction Information: 15-2-24(h)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None
Sealing Conviction Information: None

WISCONSIN - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 19.35(1)
Purging Conviction Information: None
Purging Non-conviction: 165.84(1)
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None (Civil Remedy 19.37)
Sealing Conviction Information: None

WYOMING - Expungement, Sealing and Record Modification Laws

Right to Inspect & Obtain Record: 7-19-109
Purging Conviction Information: 7-13-301
Purging Non-conviction: None
Sealing Non-conviction Information: None (Civil Remedy C None)
Sealing Conviction Information: None