HOW DO I SEAL OR EXPUNGE MY RECORD?
Visit our Clean Slate Program page for details on how we can help with sealing/expungement, license reinstatement and notices of availability. For answers to frequently asked questions, please see below.
What is the difference between sealing and expungement?
Most of the time when people talk about expungement they really mean sealing. Expungement is a remedy that was very limited in Ohio until 2023. Expunging your record means it is gone forever, permanently deleted, destroyed as though it never existed.
When a record is sealed it is removed from view, but still exists. It will not be found in a search of court records. A sealed record may show up on a background check for certain types of employment.
The University of Akron School of Law runs FREE Reentry and VALID Clinics to assist individuals with their criminal records, obtaining a CQE (Certificate of Qualification for Employment), and in reinstating their driver’s license. For more information, please visit their website at https://www.uakron.edu/law/curriculum/clinical-programs/reentry.dot.
How can I seal or expunge my juvenile record?
Clients wishing to seal their juvenile record should fill out an application to seal or expunge their records and file it with the clerk of court at the Juvenile Courthouse. They should also submit a motion to waive the filing fee.
Juvenile records must be sealed before they can be expunged.
How can I seal my adult record?
Clients wishing to seal their adult records must fill out an application in the court where the dismissal or conviction occurred. If your case was in Akron Municipal Court and it was dismissed, you can use this form. If your case was in Akron Municipal Court and you were convicted, you can use this form.
More Information
For more information about sealing or expungement please see the resources below. You can also call our office 330-434-3461.
Akron-Summit County Public Library