Getting a Copy of Your Massachusetts Criminal Record
Which Massachusetts agency keeps criminal history records, how to request your own record, and the fee.
Short answer: Massachusetts mainly uses sealing. Sealed records stay on file but are hidden, and inquirers are told "no record" exists. M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100A, 100B, 100C, 100F–100L; c. 127, § 152
| What relief the state offers | Massachusetts mainly uses sealing. Sealed records stay on file but are hidden, and inquirers are told "no record" exists. Convictions can be sealed by request to the Commissioner of Probation after a waiting period, and non-conviction cases are sealed automatically or by court order. Expungement, which removes the record entirely, is narrow: it covers offenses committed before age 21 in limited circumstances, and records created by identity theft, error or fraud, or for conduct that is no longer a crime. Pardons granted by the Governor result in sealing. |
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Where to get help in Massachusetts
More Massachusetts expungement & criminal records
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Massachusetts
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Massachusetts
- How to File for Expungement in Massachusetts
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Massachusetts
- All Massachusetts expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
Can you get a criminal record expunged in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts mainly uses sealing. Sealed records stay on file but are hidden, and inquirers are told "no record" exists. Convictions can be sealed by request to the Commissioner of Probation after a waiting period, and non-conviction cases are sealed automatically or by court order. Expungement, which removes the record entirely, is narrow: it covers offenses committed before age 21 in limited circumstances, and records created by identity theft, error or fraud, or for conduct that is no longer a crime. Pardons granted by the Governor result in sealing.
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.