Sealing of Criminal Records

It is not necessary to hire an attorney to seal your records.  Many of the counties and municipalities post instructions and forms to assist an individual in sealing their records (links are provided below.)  Additionally, not all conviction records can be sealed.  Sexual offenses and a homicide resulting from driving while intoxicated are examples of convictions which prohibit record sealing.

Sealing records DOES NOT destroy the records, in certain circumstances the records can be opened and reviewed (see Reopening sealed records.)  Sealing records DOES NOT restore the right to bear arms, only a pardon can restore the right to bears arms and is made more difficult to obtain by having the records sealed prior to receiving a pardon.