Last Updated on: March 26, 2026
If you have a felony on your record, you may still have a way to clear it or at least limit who can see it. But this is one of those topics where the real answer depends on your state, the exact charge, the final outcome of the case, whether you finished every part of the sentence, and how much time has passed. Federal cases are much harder, and a pardon is not the same thing as expungement.
Quick Answer
Yes, some felony records can be expunged, sealed, or set aside. But not every felony qualifies, and the rules are very different from one state to another.
As of March 2024, 38 states plus Washington, D.C., allowed some form of expungement, sealing, or set aside relief for felony and misdemeanor convictions. The details vary a lot, including which offenses qualify, how long the waiting period is, and whether you still have to disclose the record in certain situations.
What expungement, sealing, set aside, and pardon actually mean
These terms are often treated like they mean the same thing, but they do not.
Expungement usually means the record is removed from normal public access in some way. In some states that relief is strong. In others, the record may still exist in a limited form or remain available for certain official purposes.
Sealing usually means the record still exists, but public access is restricted. That does not always mean the record disappears for every purpose. Some government agencies or criminal justice agencies may still be able to see it. California, for example, explains that sealed arrest and court records are no longer available to the public, but government agencies such as law enforcement can still access them in some situations.
Set aside usually means the conviction is legally changed in a way that helps reduce some consequences, but the underlying record may still exist. Whether it helps with jobs, housing, licensing, or background checks depends on state law.
Pardon is different from all of the above. A pardon can forgive the offense or reduce some legal consequences, but it does not automatically erase the record. The Department of Justice says a presidential pardon does not automatically expunge judicial or executive branch records.
States that allowed some type of felony conviction relief as of March 2024
| State | Main type of felony relief | Simple note for readers |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Expungement | Some felony convictions may qualify, but relief is limited and offense specific. |
| Alaska | Set aside | Relief is mainly through set aside after a suspended imposition of sentence. |
| Arizona | Set aside | Set aside is the main path. It helps, but it does not fully erase the record. |
| Arkansas | Sealing | Many felony convictions may be sealed after the waiting period if they are eligible. |
| California | Dismissal and sealing | Some felony convictions may be dismissed or reduced, and some records may be sealed in specific situations. |
| Colorado | Sealing | Some felony convictions may be sealed, with exclusions for more serious offenses. |
| Delaware | Expungement | Some felony records may be expunged, but eligibility is limited. |
| Hawaii | Expungement | Relief exists, but felony conviction relief is narrower than in many states. |
| Illinois | Sealing | Illinois is broader for sealing than for expungement. Many conviction records are sealed, not erased. |
| Indiana | Expungement | Indiana has a broad expungement law, but violent and sex offenses are commonly excluded. |
| Kansas | Expungement | Many felonies can be expunged after a waiting period, with exclusions for serious offenses. |
| Kentucky | Expungement | Certain listed Class D felonies may be vacated and expunged. |
| Louisiana | Expungement | Some felony convictions may be expunged after a long waiting period, usually 10 years. |
| Maryland | Set aside | Maryland offers limited conviction relief, including set aside in some cases. |
| Massachusetts | Sealing and expungement | Sealing is more common. True expungement is more limited. |
| Michigan | Set aside | Michigan allows set aside relief, including broader automatic clearing for some records. |
| Minnesota | Expungement | Minnesota allows expungement for some felony convictions, with important limits. |
| Mississippi | Expunction | Mississippi allows expunction in limited felony situations. |
| Missouri | Expungement | Some felonies may be expunged, but many serious offenses are excluded. |
| Nebraska | Set aside | Nebraska mainly uses set aside rather than a broad expungement system. |
| Nevada | Sealing | Nevada allows sealing of many felony convictions after category based waiting periods. |
| New Hampshire | Annulment | New Hampshire uses annulment, which functions like record clearing for some felonies. |
| New Jersey | Expungement | New Jersey allows expungement of a limited number of indictable offenses. |
| New Mexico | Expungement | Some felony convictions may be expunged after the waiting period. |
| New York | Sealing | New York mainly uses sealing, and the number of eligible convictions is limited. |
| North Carolina | Expunction | North Carolina allows expunction for some nonviolent felony convictions. |
| Ohio | Sealing and expungement | Ohio allows sealing for some felony convictions and expungement in narrower situations. |
| Oklahoma | Expungement | Oklahoma allows expungement for some felony convictions, but the limits are strict. |
| Oregon | Set aside | Oregon uses set aside for certain felony convictions. |
| Rhode Island | Expungement | Rhode Island allows expungement for some first offender and limited felony situations. |
| South Carolina | Expungement | Relief exists, but felony conviction expungement is relatively narrow. |
| Tennessee | Expunction | Tennessee allows expunction for certain eligible felonies. |
| Utah | Expungement | Utah is broader than many states for expungement, though important exclusions still apply. |
| Vermont | Sealing and expungement | Vermont allows relief for some felony convictions, but eligibility depends heavily on offense type. |
| Washington | Vacate | Washington often uses vacating a conviction rather than classic expungement. |
| West Virginia | Expungement | Some nonviolent felony convictions may be expunged. |
| Wisconsin | Expungement | Wisconsin’s felony expungement relief is mostly limited to youthful offenders. |
| Wyoming | Expungement | Wyoming allows expungement for some felony convictions after the waiting period. |
| Washington, D.C. | Sealing and expungement | D.C. allows sealing and expungement in some felony cases, with exclusions and waiting periods. |
Can a felony be expunged?
Sometimes, yes. But you should not assume that because one state allows felony expungement, your state does too. Some states allow relief for a wide range of felonies. Some allow it only for lower level or nonviolent felonies. Some mostly offer relief for dismissed cases, acquittals, or cases that never ended in conviction.
In many states, cases that did not end in conviction are easier to clear than conviction records. New Jersey says certain dismissed cases, acquittals, and discharges may qualify for expungement, and California explains that people can ask to seal many arrests that did not result in conviction.
That means the first question is not just, “Was it a felony?” The first question is, “What exactly happened in the case?”
Who usually has the best chance at felony expungement?
You may have a stronger chance of getting relief if one or more of these are true:
- The case was dismissed, dropped, withdrawn, or ended in not guilty.
- Your state specifically makes that offense eligible for expungement, sealing, or set aside relief.
- You finished every part of the sentence, including jail, probation, parole, treatment, fines, fees, and restitution if your state requires them. The National Center for State Courts reports that completion rules and payment rules vary widely across states.
- The waiting period has passed. The National Center for State Courts found that waiting periods for eligible felony record clearing can range from less than one year to 20 years, and states do not all start the clock the same way.
- You have stayed out of new trouble long enough to satisfy your state’s clean record rules.
What often blocks relief
A lot of people assume they qualify because they finished probation. Others assume they do not qualify just because the charge was a felony. Both assumptions can be wrong. Common roadblocks include offense exclusions, not enough time having passed, unpaid court debt, or filing in the wrong court or with the wrong documents.
The National Center for State Courts reports that at least 22 states require payment of some or all court debt before relief is available, and most record clearing is still petition based instead of fully automatic. The same report also notes that filing fees and related costs can be a major barrier.
Some records may clear automatically
Not every state makes people file a petition for every case. As of March 2024, at least 24 states had passed automatic record clearing for at least one type of offense after a waiting period, although not all of those laws were already in effect. Only nine states had automatic clearing for any felony level. That means automatic relief exists, but you should never assume your felony will clear on its own.
Federal felony expungement is very limited
Federal relief is much harder than state relief. Several federal court FAQ pages state that federal convictions cannot be expunged and point people toward the presidential pardon process instead. That is the practical rule for most people with a federal felony conviction.
There are narrow exceptions. One of the clearest examples is 18 U.S.C. § 3607, which provides special probation and expungement relief in a limited first offense simple possession situation for a person who was under age 21 at the time of the offense. That is an exception, not a broad federal expungement system.
A presidential pardon is also not the same as expungement. It does not automatically erase court records or executive branch records.
How to check if you may qualify for expungement
Do these steps in this order.
1. Get your full record
You need the exact charges, final disposition, case numbers, and dates before you can judge eligibility. New Jersey says you need your case number to use its free eCourts Expungement System. California also explains how people can request their own criminal history record for review.
2. Find out how the case ended
A dismissed case, an acquittal, or a case that never ended in conviction is often treated much more favorably than a conviction.
3. Check whether you completed everything
That includes incarceration, supervision, treatment, fines, fees, and restitution if your state ties eligibility to full completion.
4. Check the waiting period carefully
Do not guess when it starts. In some states the clock starts at conviction. In others it starts after probation, parole, or payment of money owed is completed.
5. Read your state court website first
Official court websites are usually the best starting point because they often have forms, instructions, fee information, and eligibility guides. New Jersey has a free online expungement system, and California courts have self help pages for record cleaning and sealing arrests with no conviction.
6. Get legal help if the case is complicated
This matters even more if the case involves multiple convictions, a violent offense, a sex offense, immigration issues, professional licensing, or firearm rights. State laws differ, and disclosure exceptions can still matter even after relief is granted.
What relief can really do for you
Getting a record expunged or sealed can make a real difference for jobs, housing, licensing, and everyday background screening. But you should not trust any page that promises the record is “gone forever” in every situation. The legal effect of record clearing is different from state to state, and some disclosure exceptions may still apply.
California gives a good example of why blanket promises are risky. Its courts say sealed arrest and court records are no longer available to the public, but certain government agencies can still access them, and there are still situations where a person must disclose the arrest.
Watch out for expungement scams
Be careful with any service that says it can erase any felony, guarantee a result, or clear your record in every state. Eligibility is controlled by state law, court procedure, and the facts of your case. A real case will require waiting, filing fees, court records, fingerprints, a hearing, or a judge’s order.
Start with your state judiciary website, a legal aid group, or a licensed attorney before paying a private company.
FAQ
Not always. Some states offer self help forms and step by step court instructions. But a lawyer can be especially helpful if you have multiple cases, a serious offense, unpaid court debt, or questions about licensing, firearms, or immigration consequences.
Yes, in many states they can. Some states require you to finish all financial obligations before relief is available, so unpaid balances can block a petition even if your waiting period has passed.
Start with the court where the case was filed or your state court website. You may also need a copy of your criminal history record, final disposition, and proof that all parts of the sentence were completed.
4) Does expungement remove mugshots or old news articles from the internet?
Usually not by itself. Court relief may clear or restrict the official record, but third party websites, old news stories, and cached pages may still exist unless they are removed separately.
Dismissed cases and acquittals are often easier to clear than convictions. Convictions usually come with stricter offense limits, longer waiting periods, and more paperwork
Disclaimer
This page is a general national guide and not legal advice. Expungement, sealing, set aside, and pardon rules change often and vary by state, court, offense, and case outcome. Always verify eligibility, forms, waiting periods, and disclosure rules through your state court system, a licensed attorney, or a qualified legal aid organization before filing anything