North Carolina: Adult Non-Conviction Arrests (NC-NC-4)

Records relating to certain controlled substance and paraphernalia charges, for a person not over the age of 21 at the time of the offense, can be expunged upon dismissal, nolle prosequi, or finding of not guilty or adjudication of innocence. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.2(b), 15A-145.3(b).

Record Detail(s)

Charges resolved in favor of defendant

Previous Conviction Disqualifying

No statutory language

Mandatory / Discretionary

Mandatory

Clearance Process

Petition-based

Remedy

Expunge

Ineligible Category or Citation

This provision applies only to offenses specified in N.C. Gen. Stat. sections 15A-145.2(b), 15A-145.3(b), 90-95(a)(3).

Procedure General

The petition must be filed in the court that handled the case. For the specific procedure, see N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.2 (a).

Fees

The $175 filing fee is waivable if the petitioner is indigent. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 15A-145.2(d), 15A-145.3(d).

Effect

The effect of such order shall be to restore the petitioner in the contemplation of the law to the status he occupied before such arrest or indictment or information or conviction. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.3 (c).

Forms

For more information on application to expunge a criminal record in North Carolina, see here.

Waiting Periods

The petition can be filed upon dismissal, nolle prosequi, or finding of not guilty or adjudication of innocence.

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