If you are seeking an Ohio expungement please review the expungement overview below. Check back often or Sign Up for an email alert when the Ohio Expungement Kit is ready.

Requirement(s) to qualify for an expungement in Ohio

In Ohio , expungement is the same as sealing a record. It is a court process that allows you to have any and all reference to a prior criminal conviction cleared and your court file sealed. It is as if you were never convicted of the crime

Offenses of violence; convictions for riot and misdemeanor; convictions for assault; inciting to violence; and inducing panic can be expunged.

Persons seeking to expunge juvenile records are eligible include any person who has been arrested and charged with being a delinquent child, unruly child,  or a juvenile traffic offender and who is found not guilty of the charges in the case or has the charges in the case dismissed

Does the law provide for sealing? What are the requirements? dditional restrictions on who can qualify for an Expungement

All official records pertaining to the case may be ordered sealed and, except that an index of sealed records may be maintained, all index references to the case deleted and, in the case of bail forfeitures, the court may dismiss the charges in the case.  

You were not subject to a mandatory prison term for the conviction you seek to expunge (in other words, you were eligible for probation for that conviction). Even if you were actually sentenced to prison time, as long as you were eligible for probation.
This was your first and only conviction. You have never been convicted of the same crime or any other crime in this or any other state. unless:

1. You were convicted of two or more crimes based upon the same action. In that case, all of these convictions will be considered your first and all can be erased from your record. For example, if you were convicted of shoplifting and resisting arrest as a result of the shoplifting, you can get both records sealed. OR
2. Your other convictions are for minor misdemeanors. Minor misdemeanors, including most traffic offenses, do not count as criminal convictions. These charges should not prevent you from having your record sealed.
3. You were convicted of a misdemeanor and more than one year has passed since your “final discharge,” or you were convicted of a felony and more than three years have passed since your “final discharge.” Final discharge means completion of jail time and/or probation.
4. You currently do not have any criminal or traffic proceedings pending against you.
5. You have not had any other case expunged.

What does it mean if you have a record expunged or sealed? (i.e., can you legally deny the conviction or arrest? Does anyone have access to the sealed/expunged records? Are they destroyed?)

In Ohio , expungement is the same as sealing a record. It is a court process that allows you to have any and all reference to a prior criminal conviction cleared and your court file sealed. It is as if you were never convicted of the crime.

However, even if your record is sealed:

1. law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and other agencies can look at your sealed record;
2. if you commit another crime, your sealed record can still be used against you in sentencing; and
3. your sealed record may be used to show character or credibility in court proceedings.

In the case of juvenile records expunged, records ordered to be sealed must be destroyed. There is an exception for records of expelled students maintained by school systems.

All official records pertaining to the case may be ordered sealed and, except that an index of sealed records may be maintained, all index references to the case deleted and, in the case of bail forfeitures, the court may dismiss the charges in the case. For juvenile records expunged the court shall order the appropriate persons and governmental agencies to delete all index references to the case; destroy or delete all court records of the case; destroy all copies of any pictures and fingerprints taken of the person pursuant to the expunged arrest; and destroy, erase, or delete any reference to the arrest that is maintained by the state or any political subdivision of the state, except a record of the arrest that is maintained for compiling statistical data and that does not contain any reference to the person. There is an exception for records of expelled students maintained by school systems.

Are you eligible for an Ohio Expungement? Most crimes can be expunged. For a description of the crimes that cannot be expunged, click here .

Be sure to check the site often as we are in the process of adding Expungement Kit for the State of Ohio soon.