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Louisiana

Adult Criminal Record Clearance Overview

Adult criminal records for cases in which you were convicted are eligible for expungement in some situations. You must file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether to grant your petition. 

  • If you were convicted but later found factually innocent by a judge, the record can be expunged immediately. 
  • With certain exceptions, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor, the record can be expunged five years after you complete your sentence, so long as you are not convicted of a felony during that time. 
  • With certain exceptions, if you were convicted of a felony, the record can be expunged 10 years after you complete your sentence, so long as you are not convicted of anything else during that time. 
  • If you are entitled to a first-offender pardon, the records can be expunged by the court immediately. 

Adult criminal records for cases in which you completed a diversion or deferral program are eligible for expungement in some situations. You must file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether to grant your petition. 

  • With certain exceptions, if you successfully completed deferred-sentence probation in a misdemeanor case, the record can be expunged immediately. 
  • With certain exceptions, if you successfully completed deferred-sentence probation in a felony case, the record can be expunged immediately. 

Adult criminal records for arrests for which you were never convicted are eligible for expungement. You must file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition. 

  • If all charges were dismissed, you were acquitted, or the case in any way ended without a conviction, the record can be expunged immediately. 
  • If you were arrested for a felony, but the case ended with only a misdemeanor conviction, the record of the felony arrest can be expunged immediately. 

Adult Criminal Record Clearance Policies

Records relating to a misdemeanor conviction can be expunged by the court five years after sentence completion. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 977.
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Records relating to a felony conviction can be expunged by the court 10 years after sentence completion, if the person has no subsequent convictions. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 978.
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Records relating to a case for which the person is entitled to a first-offender pardon can be expunged by the court immediately. La. C.Cr.P.Art. 978(A)(3).
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Records relating to a misdemeanor case dismissed following successful completion of deferred-sentence probation can be expunged by the court immediately. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 977(A)(2).
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Records relating to a felony case dismissed following successful completion of deferred sentence probation may be expunged by the court immediately. La. C.Cr.P.Art. 978(A)(2).
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Records relating to an arrest or conviction for which the person was judicially determined to be factually innocent, can be expunged by the court. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 976(A)(4).
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Records relating to a felony or misdemeanor arrest that resulted in dismissal, acquittal, or other non-conviction disposition can be expunged by the court. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 976.
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A record of a felony arrest where the original arrest resulted in a misdemeanor conviction can be expunged by the court. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 985.1.
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Juvenile Record Clearance Overview

Below is a general overview of when juvenile records can be expunged in Louisiana. Please note that the Clean Slate Clearinghouse does not provide legal advice. 

Read the legal policies and statutes for detailed statutory information. 

Juvenile Record Clearance Policies Overview 

Most juvenile records can be expunged. 

  • If charges were never filed against you or your case was dismissed, your record can be expunged at any time. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and the judge is required to grant your request if you meet the criteria. 
  • If you were adjudicated (found guilty) for anything except murder, manslaughter, a sex offense requiring you to register, kidnapping, or armed robbery, your record can be expunged after  your case closes, or you are released from probation or commitment. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and the judge is required to grant your request if you meet the criteria. 
  • If you were adjudicated (found guilty) for murder, manslaughter, a sex offense requiring you to register, kidnapping, or armed robbery, your record can be expunged five years after your release from probation or commitment. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request. 

You may not be eligible for expungement if you have certain convictions or adjudications on your record or have pending criminal or juvenile charges. 

Find a Lawyer 

If you think you might be eligible to have your record expunged, find a lawyer who may be able to help you. Some lawyers might help you for free, although you may still need to pay a fee to file the paperwork in court. 

Court Forms and Resources 

If you cannot find a lawyer to help you, you may be able to file a petition on your own using these court forms and resources. 

Juvenile Record Clearance Policies

A record relating to a delinquency filing that did not result in an adjudication will be expunged and sealed upon petition at any time. La. Child. Code Ann. Art. 918(A).
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A record relating to a delinquency adjudication for sex-related offenses will be expunged and sealed at any time. La. Child. Code Ann. Art. 918(A).
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A record relating to a delinquency matter that resulted in adjudication will be expunged and sealed upon petition, so long as the court exercising juvenile jurisdiction has ceased exercising jurisdiction and the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. La. Child. Code Ann. Art. 918(B).
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Records and reports of a matter that resulted in a finding of Families in Need of Services or an adjudication for any charge other than murder, manslaughter, an offense requiring registration as a sex offender under R.S. 15:542, kidnapping, or armed robbery, shall be expunged and sealed only if the court exercising juvenile jurisdiction has ceased to exercise jurisdiction. La. Child. Code Ann. Art. 918(D).
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An adjudication for prostitution or related offenses that resulted from being a victim of human trafficking can be set aside, and the related records may be expunged and sealed by the court immediately.  La. Child. Code Ann. Art. 923.
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A record relating to a delinquency matter that did not result in charges being filed can be expunged and sealed upon petition at any time. La. Child. Code Ann. Art. 918(A).
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Find A Lawyer

Legal service providers located in the state.

Contact information for legal aid organizations, bar associations, and other organizations that engage in record clearance work is provided for informational purposes only. The NRRC does not endorse or recommend any organization or individual referenced on the site. If you are a legal service provider who offers record clearance services, please contact us.

Louisiana Center for Children's Rights

Service area: Statewide Clearance services available only for those with juvenile records.

Justice and Accountability Center

Service area: Statewide

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - New Orleans

Service area: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes

Southwest Louisiana Legal Services

Service area: Southwestern Louisiana

Court Forms & Resources

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