How Can I Get an Expungment?
Expungement laws are complicated and vary state to state. In most cases, you will need to hire an attorney to walk you through the legal process of getting an expungement. If an expungement is done incorrectly, your criminal record can still be viewed by others, including potential employers. Some states have resources available to help individuals get expungements without needing to pay for an attorney. See below for information on these resources in your state.
New york
Case Closed is a record sealing and expungement project in the Special Litigation Unit of The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice. If you want to know if you qualify for sealing or expungement, click the image to the right. You can also call 212-298-3120 or email [email protected].
California
California courts have developed a self-help system to assist people in finding information on and obtaining an expungement. This website also lists the public defenders' offices for each county that assists with record expungement. Click on the link to the left for more information.
Colorado
Expunge Colorado provides education, training, consultation and access to legal services for record sealing of eligible criminal cases in Colorado. Since 2018, the founders of Expunge Colorado have provided and hosted a free annual record sealing event for all Coloradans with criminal cases eligible for sealing. Click on the image to the left for more information.
Georgia
The Georgia Justice Project offers free services to help with expungement, record correction and pardons. Before you apply for GJP's services, you must attend an informational session that includes information on how to read your record, what is eligible for expungement in Georgia, how to apply for a pardon, and how to apply to GJP’s services. Click here for a list of scheduled information sessions. For more information call (404) 827-0027, ext. 238 or email [email protected].
Kentucky
ExpungeKY is a free online tool that guides people through the process of getting their record expunged. Follow the prompts and answer the questions online, and ExpungeKY will generate the forms that you need to file for an expungement. Click the image to the left for more information.
Louisiana
The Justice & Accountability Center of Louisiana provides free legal help to individuals trying to get their criminal records expunged. Help is provided at monthly expungement walk-in clinics. For more information, click the image to the left or call 1-504-322-4050 or email [email protected].
michigan
Michigan Legal Help assists Michigan residents with solving their legal problems, including having their criminal convictions expunged. MLH offers free or low cost assistance to all qualified Michigan residents. Click the image to the left for more information.
North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina offers a free Expungement Clinic. Individuals who want to know whether they qualify for expungement can call 1-866-219-5262 or click the image to the right for more information.
Ohio
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is dedicated to offering free or low cost legal help to those seeking to have their records sealed. In Ohio, adult convictions generally cannot be “expunged” or completely erased from your record. Instead of expungement, Ohio uses a court process called “sealing a criminal record.” Under Ohio law, once the record is sealed, it is as if the offense never occurred. Click the image to the right to apply for legal assistance.
Oklahoma
The Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City assists individuals who are seeking to have their records expunged and will cover the cost of the expungement. Click the image to the right for more information and to apply for assistance.
pennsylvania
The Chosen 300 clinic hosts a free expungement clinic for any Pennsylvania resident interested in obtaining a record expungement. The clinic is hosted at 3959 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104 every Monday evening at 5 pm. Click the image to the left for more info or call 215-243-0300 or email [email protected].
Tennessee
The Knoxville Area Urban League is for justice involved individuals who want to learn more about expungement of charges. The Tennessee Expungement statute allows people with criminal records to file a petition to expunge all dismissed charges for free after the charge is dismissed and court costs are paid, and to file a motion to expunge up to two eligible low-level convictions after a five year waiting period. Click the image to the right to learn more.
