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| Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maryland | Maine | |
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| Clearance policy overview | Records relating to the entry of a probation before judgment or judgment of conviction in a criminal case may be vacated by the court on the ground that there is newly discovered evidence, or the interest of justice and fairness justifies vacating the probation before judgment or conviction. Md. Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 8-301.1(a)(1). | Records relating to a charge that was transferred to the juvenile court under § 4-202, can be expunged by the court. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(a)(7). | Records relating to a violation of §3-203 of the Criminal Law Article or common law battery can be expunged by the court 7 years after sentence completion. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-110(a), (c)(2). | Records relating to specified low-level offenses can be expunged by the court three years after sentence completion or a finding of not criminally responsible. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(a)(9)-(10), (c)(6)-(7). | Records relating to specified misdemeanor convictions can be expunged by the court 5 years after sentence completion. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-110(a), (c)(1). | Records relating to misdemeanor convictions for assault in the second degree or a domestically related offense can be expunged by the court 15 years after sentence completion. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-110(c)(2). | Records related to an eligible conviction can be shielded by the court three years after sentence completion. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. §§ 10-303(a), 10-301(f). | Records relating to a conviction for an act that is no longer a crime can be expunged by the court. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(a)(11). | Records relating to a prostitution conviction can be vacated by the court if the person's participation in the offense was a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 8-302. | Records relating to a specified felony conviction can be expunged by the court 15 years after sentence completion. Md. Crim Proc. Code Ann. § 10-110(a)(2). | On or before July 1, 2024, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services shall expunge all cases in which: (1) possession of cannabis under § 5-601 of the Criminal Law Article is the only charge in the case; and (2) the charge was issued before July 1, 2023. Md. Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 10-112(b). | A record relating to charges against a child can be sealed on the court's own motion or by a petition for good cause shown any time before the person reaches 21 years of age. Md. Code Ann., Cts & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-27(c). | A record relating to charges against a child will be sealed upon petition or the court's own motion any time after the person reaches 21 years of age. Md. Code Ann., Cts & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-27(c). | Records relating to an arrest resulting in probation before judgment, "stet", or compromise under Md. Crim. Law Code Ann. section 3-307 can be expunged by the court upon discharge from probation, completion of treatment, or three years after disposition, whichever is later. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(a)(3)-(6) and (c)(2), (5). | Records relating to an arrest resulting in a nolle prosequi with the requirement of drug or alcohol treatment can be expunged by the court upon completion of the required treatment. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(a)(4), (c)(3). | Records relating to an arrest occurring before October 1, 2007 for which no charges are filed, can be expunged by the law enforcement agency. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-103. | A record of arrest occurring on or after October 1, 2007, for which charges are not filed will be expunged within 60 days of the petitioner's release. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-103.1. | Records relating to a case in which a nolle prosequi is entered prior to service on the defendant can be expunged by the court. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-104. | Records relating to an arrest resulting in an acquittal, nolle prosequi, or a dismissal can be expunged by the court three years after the disposition, unless the petitioner files a written general waiver and release of all tort claims arising from the charge. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(a)(1), (2), (4), and (c)(1). | Records relating to a conviction for which the person received a full and free pardon are confidential. 16 M.R.S. § 703(2)(L). |
| Ineligible Category or Citation | No statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | No statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | This section applies only to a violation of §3-203 of the Criminal Law Article , or common law battery. Md. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. §10-110 (a), (c)(2). | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | This section applies only to those misdemeanor convictions listed in section 10-110(a), excluding section 3-203 of the Criminal Law Article and offenses classified as domestically related crimes under section 6-233 of this article. Md. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. §10-110 (a), (c)(1). | This section applies only to violations of 3-203 of the Criminal Law Article and domestically related offenses under section 6-2333 of this article. Md. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. § 10-110(c)(2). | See section 10-301(f) for offenses eligible to be shielded. | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | This provision applies only to prostitution offenses committed under duress. | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | No statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | Probation before judgement for violations of section 21-902 of the Transportation Article or Title 2, Subtitle 5 or section 3-211 of the Criminal Law Article are ineligible for expungement. Md. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. § 10-105(a)(3). | There is no statutory language regarding 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. | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. | There is no statutory language regarding ineligible offenses. |
| Clearance Process | By petition or court's own motion | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Automatic | By petition or court's own motion | By petition or court's own motion | Petition-based | Petition-based | Petition-based | Automatic | Automatic | Petition-based | Automatic |
| Waiting Periods | There is no waiting period. | There is no waiting period. | There is a 7-year waiting period. | The petition can be filed three years after sentence completion or a finding of not criminally responsible. | The petition can be filed 10 years after sentence completion. | The petition may be filed 15 years after sentence completion. | The petition can be filed three years after sentence completion. | The petition can be filed at any time. | The petition must be filed within a reasonable time after the conviction. | The petition can be filed 15 years after sentence completion. | There is no waiting period. | The petition can be filed at any time before the person turns 21. | The petition can be filed at any time after the person turns 21. | The petition can be filed upon discharge from probation, completion of treatment, or three years after disposition, whichever is later. | The petition can be filed upon completion of the required treatment. | The petition must be submitted within eight years of the date of the incident. | The record is expunged within 60 days of release. | The record is expunged following an entry of nolle prosequi before the defendant is served. | The petition can be filed three years after the disposition, unless the petitioner files a written general waiver and release of all tort claims arising from the charge. The court can grant a petition for expungement at any time on a showing of good cause. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-105(c)(8). | The record becomes confidential upon receipt of a pardon. |
| Fees | There is no no statutory language on fees. | There is no statutory language regarding a fee. | 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. | There is no statutory language regarding fees. | There is no statutory language regarding fees. | There is no no statutory language on 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. | No fees or costs can be required. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-103(g). | No fees or costs can be required. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-103.1(f). | No costs can be assessed against the defendant. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-104(b). | There is no statutory language regarding fees. | There is no cost associated with the record becoming confidential. See 15 M.R.S.§ 2161 for notice requirements related to the petition for pardon. |
| Effect | The court shall vacate the conviction. Md. Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 8-301.1(a). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The court and police records relating to a conviction of a crime are made inaccessible to members of the public. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-301(e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The court shall vacate the conviction. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 8-302(d). | Records are removed from public inspection. Md. Crim. Proc. Code Ann. § 10-101(d), (e). | Expungement means the removal of all references to a specified criminal case from the Central Repository. Md. Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 10-112(a). The Maryland Judiciary Case Search may not refer to the existence of a criminal case in which: (1) possession of cannabis under § 5-601 of the Criminal Law Article is the only charge in the case; and (2) the charge was disposed of before July 1, 2023. Md. Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 10-111. | There is no statutory language regarding effect of sealing. | There is no statutory language regarding effect of sealing. | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). Thereafter, the records can be obliterated. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-103.1(d). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The records are removed from public inspection. Md. Code Ann., Crim. Proc. § 10-101(d), (e). | The arrest and court records are confidential and can only be disseminated as specified in 16 M.R.S.§ 705. |
| Remedy | Vacate | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Shield | Expunge | Vacate | Expunge | Expunge | Seal | Seal | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Expunge | Shield |
