Which States Have Clean Slate (Automatic) Record Clearing (2026)
Which states automatically seal or clear old criminal records, and what each law covers.
| State | Automatic (clean slate) relief |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The expungement chapter sets out a petition process: the person must file in circuit court, and the court rules on the petition. No automatic record-clearing provision was found in the sections reviewed. Ala. Code §§ 15-27-1 to 15-27-6 |
| Alaska | Some cases are removed from the CourtView public website automatically: acquittals and dismissals after 60 days, certain cases dismissed at the first hearing, completed SIS set-aside cases (when other charges were also resolved favorably), certain under-21 alcohol cases, and certain old marijuana possession convictions. Juvenile court records are sealed by court order within 30 days after the minor turns 18 or the court's jurisdiction ends. These steps limit public website access; they do not erase the record. AS 22.35.030; Admin. Rule 40(a); AS 47.12.300(d) |
| Arkansas | When the governor issues a pardon, the governor notifies the court and the court must issue an order sealing the pardoned conviction (except pardons for offenses against minors, sex offenses, and offenses causing death or serious physical injury). A person who committed a felony under age 16, received a suspended sentence and a pardon, and has no other conviction must have the record sealed. No general automatic sealing law was found in the sources reviewed. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1411 |
| California | Yes. The California Department of Justice may automatically dismiss eligible convictions under Penal Code § 1203.425 and automatically seal eligible arrests under § 851.93; people can check their Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) sheet to see whether this has happened. Courts are also required to clean up many pre-November 2016 marijuana convictions automatically. Some juvenile records are sealed automatically when the case is dismissed after successful probation. Cal. Penal Code §§ 1203.425, 851.93; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11361.8 (Prop. 64) |
| Colorado | Yes, in part. Records of cases that end in full acquittal, full dismissal, completed diversion or a completed deferred judgment are to be sealed by the court automatically, unless the charges fall under the Victim Rights Act or another exception. A first underage alcohol or marijuana conviction is sealed automatically after August 10, 2022. The Judicial Branch also has forms for a district attorney to object to automatic sealing (JDF 2361) and for the defendant to request a hearing (JDF 2363). C.R.S. §§ 24-72-705, 18-13-122; Seal My Case (auto-sealing forms) |
| Connecticut | Yes. Clean Slate automatically erases eligible convictions for offenses on or after January 1, 2000 after seven years (misdemeanors) or ten years (eligible felonies and DUI), and the state began automated erasures in 2023. The Clean Slate site states that erasures resumed after delays caused by aging data systems, with about 50,000 people having had records partly or completely erased. Not-guilty findings, dismissals, nolles, certain 2000-2015 cannabis possession convictions, and records after an absolute pardon (granted on or after October 1, 1974) are also erased by operation of law. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 54-142a(a), (c), (d)(2), (e); 54-142t; 54-142u |
| Delaware | Yes. Beginning August 1, 2024, the State Bureau of Identification must identify cases eligible for mandatory expungement each month and expunge them. A person may still request mandatory expungement from SBI, or petition, if an automatic expungement has not happened. 11 Del. C. § 4373A |
| District of Columbia | Yes. The court is to automatically expunge records of offenses later decriminalized, legalized or held unconstitutional, and records related only to simple marijuana possession before February 15, 2015, by October 1, 2027 (or within 90 days after the case ends, if later), unless the prosecutor shows a lawful need to retain them. The court is also to automatically seal non-conviction records and eligible misdemeanor convictions 10 years after the sentence, on the same October 1, 2027 timeline. D.C. Code §§ 16-802, 16-805 |
| Florida | Yes, for some non-conviction records. When a case ends with no charges filed, dismissal of all counts, or acquittal or not-guilty verdict on all counts, the clerk sends the disposition to FDLE, which seals the record, and the clerk keeps the court record confidential. This does not apply to forcible felonies, listed sex offenses, insanity acquittals, or certain competency-related dismissals, and there is no limit on how many times it can happen. Automatic sealing does not require other agencies to seal their records. Juvenile records are also expunged automatically at age 21 or 26 depending on the offender classification. Fla. Stat. §§ 943.0595, 943.0515 |
| Georgia | Yes, in part. GCIC must restrict an arrest record when no notice of referral to a prosecutor has been received after a set time from the arrest: two years for a misdemeanor, four years for most felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies and certain sex offenses against victims under 16. These "time-expired restrictions" hide the arrest from Georgia employment and licensing checks, but the GBI states they may still be shared with the FBI and other states for non-criminal-justice purposes. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(h)(1)(A)(ii); GBI, Georgia Law Regarding Time Expired Restrictions |
| Hawaii | No automatic expungement process was found; arrest expungement requires an application to the Attorney General, and conviction expungement requires a court order. Since July 1, 2025, once an expungement order is issued, HCJDC automatically sends it to the Judiciary so the court can seal or remove the case from its public electronic databases; orders issued before that date still require the person to contact the Judiciary. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 831-3.2(f); Act 3 (2025); HCJDC Expungements page |
| Illinois | Partly, and more is coming. Law enforcement has automatically expunged arrest and supervision records for minor cannabis offenses committed before June 25, 2019 where no charges were filed or charges were dismissed. Many juvenile law enforcement and court records are expunged automatically. Under the law's automatic sealing provision, beginning January 1, 2029 the Illinois State Police are to identify and automatically seal eligible records without a petition, with older records on a schedule running into the early 2030s. 20 ILCS 2630/5.2(i)(1), (k); 705 ILCS 405/5-915 |
| Indiana | Yes, for some non-conviction records. Since July 1, 2022, when all charges are dismissed, the person is acquitted of all charges, a conviction is vacated, or a juvenile allegation is found not true or not prosecuted within a year, the court must order the records expunged without a petition. Conviction expungement always requires a petition. Ind. Code 35-38-9-1(b) |
| Iowa | Partly. When a person is discharged from probation after a deferred judgment, the court's record of the deferred judgment and related dismissed counts is expunged once all financial obligations are paid, without a separate petition. The court may also order expungement of acquittals and dismissals on its own motion, and must schedule a juvenile sealing hearing on its own motion two years after the last action or at age 18. Iowa Code §§ 907.9(4)(b), 901C.2(1)(a), 232.150(1)(a) |
| Kentucky | Partly. Cases dismissed with prejudice or ending in acquittal on or after July 15, 2020 (other than traffic cases) are expunged automatically after 30 days, with no action needed from the person, unless the person files a written objection within 30 days. Kentucky does not have automatic clearing of convictions. KRS 431.076(1)(a); Kentucky Court of Justice, Expungement page |
| Louisiana | Louisiana law sets up an automated expungement process. The state criminal records bureau is to identify records eligible under Articles 976, 977 and 978. Beginning January 1, 2025, a person may submit a request (with name, date of birth, last four digits of the Social Security number, arrest date and case number) to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, which is to expunge eligible records within 30 days and notify the court system and clerks. The law says it depends on funding in the executive budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. A separate expedited, no-cost expungement applies to arrests of 17-year-olds that ended without conviction. La. C.Cr.P. arts. 985.2, 999 |
| Maine | There is no automatic sealing of adult convictions; the Judicial Branch states that sealing is not automatic. Many non-conviction records are kept confidential by law without any filing. For juveniles, records of most adjudications are sealed by court order within 5 business days after the court gets notice that the juvenile has been discharged from the disposition. Maine Judicial Branch, Sealing Your Criminal Record; 16 M.R.S. § 703(2); 15 M.R.S. § 3308-C |
| Maryland | Partly. For cases with a disposition on or after October 1, 2021, where every charge ended in acquittal, dismissal, not guilty or nolle prosequi (other than nolle prosequi with required drug or alcohol treatment), the records are expunged automatically 3 years after the disposition. This does not cover Transportation Article violations where no court appearance is required. A person can ask for expungement sooner, at no cost, using form CC-DC-CR-072C. The Judiciary also describes a limited automatic expungement from the state's Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) of stand-alone cannabis possession charges issued before July 1, 2023; the court's own record is not destroyed. Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-105.1; Maryland Judiciary, Expungement Part 7: Expungement of Cannabis Charges (transcript) |
| Massachusetts | Partly. Not-guilty findings, grand jury no bills and no-probable-cause findings are sealed automatically unless the defendant asks in writing that they not be. Sealing of convictions is not automatic; the person must ask the Commissioner of Probation. M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100A, 100C |
| Michigan | Yes. Under the Clean Slate law, which the Michigan State Police say took effect April 11, 2023, eligible convictions in the state police database are set aside without an application. Misdemeanors are set aside 7 years after sentencing, and felonies 10 years after sentencing or release from prison, whichever is later. The person must have no pending charges and no new conviction during the waiting period. Lifetime limits are 2 felonies and 4 misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or more; there is no limit for misdemeanors punishable by 92 days or less. Not covered: assaultive crimes, serious misdemeanors, crimes of dishonesty, offenses punishable by 10 or more years, certain offenses involving a minor, vulnerable adult, injury or death, human trafficking offenses, people with more than one assaultive-crime conviction, and first-offense OWI. An automatic set-aside can be reinstated in some situations. MCL 780.621g, 780.621h; Michigan State Police, Michigan Clean Slate |
| Minnesota | Yes. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identifies eligible records and grants expungement without a petition. This covers dismissed cases, cases resolved in the person's favor, completed non-felony diversion or stays of adjudication, and qualifying convictions after a waiting period with no new conviction and no pending charge in Minnesota: 2 years for petty misdemeanors and misdemeanors, 3 years for gross misdemeanors, 4 years for fifth-degree drug possession felonies, and 5 years for other eligible felonies. The BCA checks within 30 days after the waiting period ends and then once a year. Records are sealed 60 days after it notifies the courts, unless a court order prevents it. Automatic expungement does not apply to records held by the Departments of Children, Youth, and Families, Health, and Human Services. Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 |
| Mississippi | No. The expunction provisions reviewed all require a petition to the court; no automatic or "clean slate" record clearing was found. Miss. Code §§ 99-19-71, 99-15-26(5) |
| Missouri | Missouri has no general automatic expungement of convictions. Records of nolle prossed, dismissed and acquitted cases, and of suspended imposition of sentence, become closed records automatically when the case ends. Under the state constitution, courts were required to order expungement of past marijuana offenses without a petition (see marijuana_records). RSMo § 610.105; Mo. Const. art. XIV, § 2.10(8) |
| Montana | There is no automatic expungement of adult records. Most youth court, law enforcement and youth corrections records are sealed automatically on the youth's 18th birthday (or when extended jurisdiction ends). MCA §§ 46-18-1104, 41-5-216 |
| Nebraska | Partly. Records of arrests and charges that do not lead to conviction are removed from the public record automatically on the timelines in § 29-3523, and most juvenile records are meant to be sealed automatically. Convictions are not cleared automatically. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3523(3); Nebraska Judicial Branch, Juvenile Record Sealing |
| Nevada | Limited. Juvenile records are sealed automatically within 60 days after the child turns 18, or after juvenile court jurisdiction ends. When the court and the Central Repository receive a certified copy of an unconditional pardon from the State Board of Pardons Commissioners, they must seal the pardoned records. Adult conviction, dismissal and acquittal records otherwise require a petition or request. NRS 62H.140, 179.273(1) |
| New Hampshire | Partly. For offenses disposed of on or after January 1, 2019, arrest and court records of cases ending in a not-guilty finding on all charges, dismissal or no prosecution are annulled automatically 30 days after the decision (or after an appeal). Records of vacated convictions are also annulled. Convictions require a petition. RSA 651:5, II-a |
| New Jersey | Partly. Under the 2021 marijuana decriminalization law, the courts automatically expunged cases containing only certain marijuana or hashish offenses, with no application required. The 2019 Clean Slate law also directs the state to build an automated process that would make all eligible convictions inaccessible to the public 10 years after the most recent conviction, payment, supervision or release. The courts' self-help page still describes Clean Slate expungement as a petition, so whether the automated system is running was not confirmed. N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.4, 2C:52-6.1; New Jersey Courts, Expungement of Certain Marijuana or Hashish Cases |
| New Mexico | Partly. Arrest and conviction records for cannabis offenses that are no longer crimes under the Cannabis Regulation Act, or that would have been lesser offenses under it, are subject to automatic expungement. A person whose records were not cleared may file a Petition for Request for Automatic Expungement under § 29-3A-8 at no cost. Other records require a petition. NMSA 1978, § 29-3A-8; Eleventh Judicial District Court, Petition to Expunge (automatic) packet |
| New York | Yes. The Clean Slate Act provides automatic sealing of eligible convictions: misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years, as described above. Convictions for driving while ability impaired (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192(1)) are sealed after 3 years. If a conviction is ineligible only because of a pending charge or current supervision, the Office of Court Administration must recheck eligibility at least every quarter. The Unified Court System says the law took effect November 16, 2024, and the court system has until November 16, 2027 to implement automatic sealing. N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 160.57(1); Unified Court System, New York State's Clean Slate Act |
| North Carolina | Partly. Cases where all charges were disposed of on or after December 1, 2021 and every charge was dismissed or ended in a not-guilty or not-responsible finding are expunged automatically 180 to 210 days after the final disposition. This does not apply to a felony charge dismissed under a plea agreement. Convictions require a petition. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-146(a4) |
| North Dakota | Court records in cases that end with dismissal or acquittal of all charges (on or after August 1, 2025) are closed automatically 61 days after the nonconviction order. North Dakota has no automatic sealing of conviction records. Convictions require a petition. N.D.C.C. § 12-60.1-05 |
| Ohio | Ohio's adult record-sealing laws reviewed here require an application. A person can apply on their own, or for low-level drug convictions the prosecutor can apply. For juveniles, the juvenile court must promptly seal records in some situations without an application. Examples include a case resolved without a complaint, or a complaint dismissed after trial or a finding that the youth was not delinquent, if the court finds the harm of disclosure outweighs the public benefit. Sealed juvenile records are later expunged automatically after five years or at age 23, whichever comes first. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2953.32, 2953.39, 2151.356, 2151.358 |
| Oklahoma | A 2022 law (HB 3316) created a "Clean Slate" process for automatic, petition-free expungement of 11 categories, including acquittals, reversed convictions, DNA exonerations, pardons, declined charges, identity theft and reclassified felonies. Some dismissals and misdemeanor categories qualify only when the record is a single-source Oklahoma record. Felony convictions and deferred felony dismissals are not Clean Slate eligible. Under the plan, OSBI identifies eligible records each month and sends them to the prosecuting and arresting agencies, which have 45 days to object. OSBI has been phasing the system in, and the earliest possible implementation deadline was November 1, 2025. A 2026 law summarized by CLEET (SB 2030, listed as effective November 1, 2026) reorganizes the process. It creates an online OSBI portal, lets some records be sealed without a court petition, and removes automatic expungement for certain records. 22 O.S. §§ 18, 19; OSBI Clean Slate Initiative; CLEET 2026 Legal Update (SB 2030) |
| Oregon | Some drug-possession records are sealed without a motion. Records of unlawful possession of a controlled substance charged as a drug-enforcement misdemeanor must be sealed within 60 days after the person completes a deflection program. They must also be sealed two years after the offense if there has been no further prosecution. The court must enter a sealing order within 90 days after the person completes probation, gets a dismissal, or is acquitted on that charge. In juvenile cases, the juvenile department must file for expunction of eligible records within 90 days after the person turns 18, and the court grants it without a hearing. ORS 137.224; ORS 419A.261 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes, under Clean Slate. Each month, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts sends eligible records to the State Police repository, and each court of common pleas issues a monthly limited-access order for records not found ineligible. Covered records: eligible lower-level misdemeanors after seven years and certain qualifying offenses after ten years (both after restitution), non-conviction dispositions, summary convictions after five years, and convictions with a conditional pardon. Records of full acquittals and of unconditionally pardoned convictions are expunged automatically through the courts. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9122(a)(4), (a.1), 9122.2 |
| Rhode Island | District Court cases dismissed under Rule 48(a) on or after January 1, 2023 are sealed automatically, without a motion, 10 to 20 days after dismissal. Prior civil violations and criminal convictions for possession only of marijuana, where the offense has since been decriminalized, were to be expunged automatically, with all eligible records expunged before July 1, 2024. Most conviction expungements still require a motion and a hearing. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1-12.1(a), 12-1.3-5 |
| South Carolina | Limited. When charges in magistrate or municipal court end in a not-guilty finding, dismissal or nol pros and the person was fingerprinted, the summary court must issue an expungement order on its own, at no cost. This happens after the appeal period ends and within 30 days after it. Those charges must also be removed from all Internet-based public court records within 30 days of disposition, whether or not the person applies. All other expungements require an application. S.C. Code Ann. § 17-22-950 |
| South Dakota | Yes, in some cases. Any charge or conviction in a case where the highest charge was a petty offense, a municipal ordinance violation, or a Class 2 misdemeanor is automatically removed from the public record after five years, if all court-ordered conditions are met and there are no new convictions. When a person completes a diversion program and the prosecutor files a dismissal and notice of completion, the court grants expungement without a motion. SDCL 23A-3-34, 23A-3-37 |
| Tennessee | The statutes reviewed include no automatic or "clean slate" clearing of conviction records. After a not-guilty verdict on all charges, the judge must ask the person whether they want the records destroyed at no cost without filing a petition. If the person says yes, the court orders it. Otherwise, expunction requires a petition. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-32-106(e)(2) |
| Texas | Partly. For deferred adjudication on most nonviolent misdemeanors, the court must issue an order of nondisclosure when it discharges and dismisses the case (or soon after the 180th day). The person pays a $28 fee and shows eligibility, but no separate petition is required. Juvenile records are sealed without an application when the person meets the statutory conditions. Most other relief requires a petition. Tex. Gov't Code § 411.072; Tex. Fam. Code §§ 58.253-58.255 |
| Utah | Yes. Since January 1, 2026, the court finds and expunges eligible cases on its own, with no request form required. The process can take up to 120 days, and the prosecutor has a chance to respond. Covered: acquittals on all charges; dismissals with prejudice; and "clean slate" convictions or dismissals once enough time has passed, measured from the date the court accepted a guilty plea or dismissed the case. That is 7 years for Class A drug possession (usually limited to 2 cases), 6 years for Class B misdemeanors (usually limited to 3 cases), and 5 years for Class C misdemeanors, infractions and minor regulatory offenses. All fines, fees and restitution must be paid. Not covered: Class A misdemeanors other than drug possession, domestic-violence-related offenses, certain weapons offenses, and felonies. Eligible traffic cases are also deleted automatically. Utah Code Title 77, Ch. 40a, Part 2; Utah Courts Self-Help |
| Vermont | Partly. When a case ends without conviction (no probable cause, dismissal or acquittal), the court must seal the record within 60 days unless a party objects in the interests of justice. No petition is needed. Sealing of convictions requires a petition, though the court must grant it without a hearing if the prosecutor agrees. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7602(a)(4), 7603(a) |
| Virginia | Yes. Convictions for certain listed low-level offenses with offense dates on or after January 1, 1986 are sealed automatically. These are misdemeanor violations of §§ 18.2-96 and 18.2-103, violations of §§ 18.2-119, 18.2-120, 18.2-134 and 18.2-415, and misdemeanor violations of (former) § 18.2-248.1. Sealing happens once seven years pass with no new reportable conviction, unless the person was convicted of an ineligible offense at the same time. Misdemeanor acquittals and dismissals with prejudice are also sealed automatically, and all charges and convictions under former § 18.2-250.1 (marijuana possession) are sealed without a court order. Va. Code §§ 19.2-392.6, 19.2-392.6:1, 19.2-392.8, 19.2-392.10 |
| Washington | There is no automatic vacation of adult convictions. The court instructions say the law does not automatically vacate a conviction, and a petition must be filed. For juveniles, the court holds regular administrative sealing hearings and seals eligible records without the person needing to attend. The court must also immediately seal juvenile court records after an acquittal or a dismissal with prejudice. RCW 13.50.260; Washington Courts form CrRLJ 09.0300 (instructions) |
| West Virginia | The statutes reviewed provide no automatic expungement of adult records. A petition is required. Juvenile records may be placed in a separate, confidential file one year after the person's 18th birthday or the end of court jurisdiction, whichever is later. W. Va. Code §§ 61-11-25, 61-11-26, 49-5-104 |
| Wisconsin | There is no general clean slate law. When a judge has ordered expungement at sentencing, it takes effect without a new court case after the sentence is completed. The detaining or probation authority issues a certificate of discharge that has the effect of expunging the record. In non-probation, non-incarceration cases, the person files Petition to Expunge Criminal Court Record of Conviction (form CR-266) to trigger the expungement. In probation cases, the Department of Corrections uses form DOC-2678. Wis. Stat. § 973.015(1m)(b); Wisconsin Court System form CR-266 summary |
| Wyoming | The statutes reviewed do not provide for automatic expungement. Each type of expungement requires a petition. The state may petition to expunge juvenile records on a person's behalf. Wyo. Stat. §§ 7-13-1401(k), 14-6-241(h) |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.