Expungement
Definition
A legal process that results in the removal of a conviction from a person's criminal record.
Deep Dive
Expungement is a legal process through which a person's criminal record, or specific entries on it, are sealed or erased from public view. The goal of expungement is to allow individuals who have committed minor offenses or completed rehabilitative programs to have a clean slate, removing barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities that a criminal record can present. While often described as "erasing" a record, in many jurisdictions, expungement means that the record is sealed and not publicly accessible, rather than physically destroyed, though its visibility to employers, landlords, and the general public is significantly limited.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1A young adult who committed a minor drug possession offense several years ago, completed all probation terms, and remained crime-free, successfully petitions the court to have that charge expunged from their record
- 2An individual completes a pre-trial diversion program for a first-time shoplifting charge, and as part of the program's terms, their arrest record for that incident is expunged upon successful completion.