Compare Records Clearance Policies | National Reentry Resource Center

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Clearance policy overview	The criminal history record of a case sealed pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 7603(a) or (g) is expunged 8 years after the date on which the record was sealed, unless either party objects. 13 V.S.A. § 7603(f).	Records relating to a conviction for an offense committed before age 25 can be sealed by the court two years after final discharge, if the person is not subjected to any ineligible offenses for 10 years prior to application, and has been rehabilitated to the court's satisfaction. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(g).	Records relating to a child adjudicated delinquent on or after July 1, 1996, will be sealed if two years have elapsed since the final discharge, unless the state's attorney files an objection and the court finds that the child is subject to a disqualifying event and has not been satisfactorily rehabilitated. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(a).	Records relating to a child adjudicated delinquent prior to July 1, 1996, will be sealed upon a petition or the court's own motion, if the court finds that the child is not subject to a disqualifying event and has been satisfactorily rehabilitated. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(b).	Records relating to juvenile court proceedings can be expunged two years after successful completion of diversion, so long as the court finds that the person has been rehabilitated. 3 V.S.A. § 163(e).	Records relating to a person who, while a child, was found to be in need of care or supervision may be sealed if the person has reached the age of majority and sealing of the record is in the interest of justice. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(c).	Records relating to a conviction of a qualifying crime or crimes arising out of the same incident or occurence will be expunged or sealed by the court without a hearing pursuant to a stipulation from the state's attorney or attorney general. 13 V.S.A. § 7602(a)(1)(A).	Records relating to a conviction of a qualifying crime, or crimes arising out of the same incident, can be expunged or sealed by the court five years after the sentence is completed or the commencement of a successfully completed indeterminate term of probation, if the petitioner has no subsequent convictions and has paid all restitution. 13 V.S.A. § 7602(b).	Records relating to a conviction of a qualifying crime, or crimes arising out of the same incident, can be expunged or sealed by the court 10 years after the sentence is completed, if the petitioner has no felony conviction in the previous seven years and no misdemeanor conviction in the past five years, and has paid all restitution. 13 V.S.A. § 7602(c).	The record of conviction or adjudication for a traffic violation can be expunged 2 years after satisfaction of the judgement. 23 V.S.A. § 2303(a).	Records relating to a conviction for an offense that is no longer prohibited by law or designated as a criminal offense can be expunged by the court at any time after sentence completion. 13 V.S.A. § 7602(a)(1)(B), (e).	Records relating to a conviction can be vacated by the court, if the conviction resulted from being a victim of human trafficking. 13 V.S.A. § 2658.	Records relating to a case dismissed after the successful completion of probation under section 7041 will be expunged by the court, absent a finding of good cause not to expunge and after all restitution is paid in full. 13 V.S.A. § 7041(a), (e).	Records relating to a case dismissed following the successful completion of adult diversion on or after July 1, 2002 can be sealed by the court. 3 V.S.A. § 164(j).	Records relating to a case dismissed following the completion of adult diversion prior to July 1, 2002 can be sealed upon petition to the court if the person has no other felony or misdemeanor convictions and does not owe restitution. 3 V.S.A. § 164(g).	The criminal record of a person who was 18 to 21 years old at the time the offense was committed can be expunged within 30 days from the successful completion of sentence. 13 V.S.A. § 7609(a).	Records relating to a juvenile charged with a criminal offense or who was the subject of a delinquincy petition on or after July 1, 2006 and prior to the person attaining majority, can be sealed by the court immediately upon dismissal. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(h)(1).	The criminal history record of a case can be sealed by the court within 60 days after disposition of the case if no probable cause has been determined upon arraignment or the charges are dismissed without prejudice. 13 V.S.A. § 7603(a).	Information relating to an arrest and charge will be deleted by the criminal justice agency three years after the arrest if no conviction has been obtained and the case is not under active prosecution, so long as the defendant is not a fugitive, has no prior felony or gross misdemeanor convictions, and no subsequent charges. Wash. Rev. Code § 10.97.060.	Information relating to an arrest and charge can be deleted by the criminal justice agency three years after the arrest if no conviction has been obtained, so long as the defendant is not a fugitive and the case is not under active prosecution. Wash. Rev. Code § 10.97.060.
Ineligible Category or Citation	There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses.	See 33 V.S.A. § 5119 for ineligible offenses.	See 33 V.S.A. § 5119 for ineligible offenses.	See 33 V.S.A. § 5119 for ineligible offenses.	The person is ineligible for expungement if the person has been convicted of a subsequent felony or misdemeanor during the two-year period, or if such proceedings are pending, or if the person owes restitution. 3 V.S.A. § 163(e).	See 33 V.S.A. § 5119(b).	See section 7601 for qualifying offenses. 13 V.S.A. § 7602.	See section 7601 for qualifying offenses. 13 V.S.A. § 7601.	See 13 V.S.A. § 7601 for qualifying offenses.	On offenses listed under 23 V.S.A. § 2303(a) are eligible for expungement.	There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses.	See 13 V.S.A. § 2658(a)(1). for ineligible offenses.	See 13 V.S.A. § 7041(a), (c) for offenses ineligible for deferred adjudication.	See 3 V.S.A. § 164(a) for offenses eligible for adult diversion.	See 3 V.S.A. § 164(a) for offenses eligible for adult diversion.	See 13 V.S.A. § 7609(b).	See 33 V.S.A. § 5119(h)(1) for ineligible offenses.	There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses.	There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses.	There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses.
Clearance Process	Automatic	By petition or court's own motion	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Petition-based	Petition-based	Petition-based	Petition-based	Automatic	Petition-based	Petition-based	Automatic	Automatic	Petition-based	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic	Petition-based	Petition-based
Waiting Periods	The record can be expunged eight years after the date on which the record was sealed.	The petition can be filed two years after the person's final discharge. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(g).	The person is eligible for automatic sealing if two years have elapsed since the person's final discharge.	The petition can be filed at any time.	The person is eligible for expungement two years after successfully completing diversion.	There is no statutory language regarding a waiting period.	There is no statutory language regarding any waiting period.	The petition can be filed five years after sentence completion or the commencement of a successfully completed indeterminate term of probation.	The petition can be filed 10 years after sentence completion.	The petition can be filed five years after the sentence is completed or the commencement of a successfully completed indeterminate term of probation.	The petition can be filed at any time after sentence completion.	There is no waiting period.	The record is expunged upon the completion of probation, absent a finding of good cause.	The court notices parties of its intention to seal the record within 30 days of the second anniversary of the successful completion of the program.	The petition can be filed two years after the successful completion of the adult diversion program.	There is no statutory language regarding a waiting period.	The petition can be filed two years after the charge is dismissed.	There is a 60-day waiting period.	The request can be filed three years after the arrest, citation, or warrant if no conviction is obtained.	The request can be filed three years after the arrest, citation, or warrant if no conviction is obtained.
Fees	There are no fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	See 3 V.S.A. § 163(c)(9) for language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	$90. Part or all of the fee can be waived if the court finds that the person is unable to pay it. 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e),(h).	Part or all of the fee can be waived if the court finds that the person is unable to pay it. 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e),(h).	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	All fees must be paid unless waived by the court. 13 V.S.A. § 7609(a).	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There are no fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.	There is no statutory language regarding fees.
Effect	The petitioner is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest, conviction, or sentence. Employment and licensing applications may not require information about expunged or sealed records. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606(a), (b), 7607(a), (b).	To "seal" a file or record means to physically and electronically segregate the record in a manner that ensures confidentiality of the record and limits access only to those persons who are authorized by law or court order to view the record. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(j).	The order will seal the files and records of the court, law enforcement, prosecution, and the Department for Children and Families related to the specific court proceeding that is the subject of the sealing. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(d). Upon the court's order to seal the record, the proceedings will be considered never to have occurred, all general index references thereto will be deleted, and the person, the court, and law enforcement officers and departments will reply to any request for information that no record exists with respect to such person upon inquiry in any matter. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(1). Sealed records can be unsealed or viewed in some limited circumstances. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(2), (f)(2)-(6).	The order will seal the files and records of the court, law enforcement, prosecution, and the Department for Children and Families related to the specific court proceeding that is the subject of the sealing. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(d). Upon the court's order to seal the record, the proceedings will be considered never to have occurred, all general index references thereto will be deleted, and the person, the court, and law enforcement officers and departments will reply to any request for information that no record exists with respect to such person upon inquiry in any matter. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(1). Sealed records can be unsealed or viewed in some limited circumstances. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(2), (f)(2)-(6).	The proceedings in the matter shall be considered never to have occurred, all index references shall be deleted, and the participant, the court, and law enforcement officers and departments shall reply to any request for information that no record exists. 3 V.S.A. § 163(f).	The order will seal the files and records of the court, law enforcement, prosecution, and the Department for Children and Families related to the specific court proceeding that is the subject of the sealing. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(d). Upon the court's order to seal the record, the proceedings will be considered never to have occurred, all general index references thereto will be deleted, and the person, the court, and law enforcement officers and departments will reply to any request for information that no record exists with respect to such person upon inquiry in any matter. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(1). Sealed records can be unsealed or viewed in some limited circumstances. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(2), (f)(2)-(6).	The petitioner is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest. Employment and licensing applications cannot require information about the expunged or sealed records. 13 V.S.A. § 7606(a), (b), 7607(a), (b). The court can grant the petition and order the record expunged or sealed, depending on which better serves the interests of justice and the age of the person at the time of the offense. 13 V.S.A. § 7603(c), (d). For the specific effects of sealing and expungement, see 13 V.S.A. § 7606, 7607.	The petitioner is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest, conviction, or sentence. Employment and licensing applications cannot require information about expunged or sealed records. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606(a), (b), 7607(a), (b). The court can grant the petition and order the record expunged or sealed, depending on the age of the petitioner at the time of the offense and what remedy better serves the interests of justice. 13 V.S.A. § 7602(b). For the specific effects of sealing and expungement, see 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606, 7607.	The petitioner is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest, conviction, or sentence. Employment and licensing applications cannot require information about expunged or sealed records. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606(a), (b), 7607(a), (b). The court can grant the petition and order the record expunged or sealed, depending on the age of the petitioner at the time of the offense and what remedy better serves the interests of justice. 13 V.S.A. § 7602(c). For the specific effects of sealing and expungement, see 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606, 7607.	The record is expunged; the person shall be treated in all respects as if he or she had never been convicted or adjudicated of the violation. See 23 V.S.A. § 2303(b).	The petitioner is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest, conviction, or sentence. Employment and licensing applications cannot require information about expunged records. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606(a), (b). For the specific effects of expungement, see 13 V.S.A. § 7606.	The conviction is vacated and the court strikes the adjudication of guilt and expunges the record of the criminal proceeding. 13 V.S.A. § 2658(d)(2).	All records and files related to the arrest, citation, investigation, charge, adjudication of guilt, criminal proceedings, and probation related to the deferred sentence are expunged. 13 V.S.A. § 7041(e).	The proceeding is considered never to have occurred. 3 V.S.A. § 164(h).	The proceeding is considered never to have occurred. 3 V.S.A. § 164(h).	The record is expunged; the court, law enforcement officers, agencies, and departments shall reply to any request for information that no record exists with respect to such individual. 13 V.S.A. § 7609(a).	The files and court records are sealed. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(h)(2). Upon the court's order to seal the record, the proceedings will be considered never to have occurred, all general index references thereto will be deleted, and the person, the court, and law enforcement officers and departments will reply to any request for information that no record exists with respect to such person upon inquiry in any matter. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(1). The sealed records can be unsealed or viewed in some limited circumstances. 33 V.S.A. § 5119(e)(2), (f)(2)-(6).	The petitioner is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest, conviction, or sentence. Employment and licensing applications may not require information about expunged or sealed records. 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606(a), (b), 7607(a), (b).	Criminal history data is deleted from criminal justice agency files which are available and generally searched for the purpose of responding to inquiries. Wash. Rev. Code § 10.97.060.	The criminal history data is deleted from criminal justice agency files which are available and generally searched for the purpose of responding to inquiries. Wash. Rev. Code § 10.97.060.
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The National Reentry Resource Center is operated by the Council of State Governments Justice Center and supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-23-GK-05503-MUMU awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.