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Ohio

Adult Criminal Record Clearance Overview

Adult criminal records for cases in which you were convicted are eligible for sealing or expungement in some situations. You have to file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition. 

  • With certain exceptions, if you were convicted of a felony, the record can be sealed three years after your discharge, so long as you have never had anything more than one felony and one misdemeanor conviction. 
  • With certain exceptions, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor, the record can be sealed one year after your discharge, so long as you have never had more than two misdemeanor convictions. 
  • If you were convicted of prostitution or a related offense because you were a victim of human trafficking, the record can be expunged immediately. 
  • If you were convicted of a felony of the third degree, the record can be sealed by the court. 
  • If you were convicted of a felony of the fourth or fifth degree or a misdemeanor, the record can be sealed by the court. 
  • Records relating to a case in which a court enters a judgment that vacates and sets aside the conviction of a person because of DNA testing that was performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code or under section 2953.82 of the Revised Code, can be sealed by the court. 

If your case was dismissed after you successfully completed intervention in lieu of conviction, the record can be sealed immediately. You have to file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition. 

Likely not eligible for expungement or sealing.

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

  • If your case ended with dismissal or a not guilty verdict, the record can be sealed immediately. 
  • If you are charged with a crime but the grand jury did not indict you, the record can be sealed two years after the grand jury reports no true bill. 

Adult Criminal Record Clearance Policies

Records relating to a felony of the fourth or fifth degree or a misdemeanor can be sealed by the court. ORC Ann. §§ 2953.32, 2953.31.
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Records relating to a felony conviction may be sealed three years after the person's final discharge, so long as the person has no more than one felony conviction. The court may determine that two or three convictions resulting from criminal acts that were committed within a three-month period should be counted as one conviction. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2953.32, 2953.31.
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Records relating to a misdemeanor conviction may be sealed one year after the person's final discharge. The court may determine that two or three convictions resulting from criminal acts that were committed within a three-month period should be counted as one conviction. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2953.32, 2953.31. See section 2953.31 for the definition of "eligible offender" and section 2953.36 for offenses ineligible for clearance.
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Records relating to a felony of the third degree can be sealed by the court. ORC Ann. §§ 2953.32, 2953.31.
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Records relating to a case in which a court enters a judgment that vacates and sets aside the conviction of a person because of DNA testing that was performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code can be sealed by the court. ORC Ann. 2953.57(A).
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Records relating to a case dismissed upon the successful completion of intervention in lieu of conviction can be sealed by the court. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2951.041(E).
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Records relating to a criminal charge can be sealed two years after a grand jury reports no true bill. ORC Ann. 2953.33(A).
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Records relating to a criminal charge can be sealed upon the dismissal or a finding of not guilty. ORC Ann. 2953.33(A).
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Records related to a case ending in dismissal or acquittal can be expunged by the court immediately if the charges resulted from being a victim of human trafficking. ORC Ann. § 2953.521.
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Juvenile Record Clearance Overview

Below is a general overview of when juvenile records can be sealed or expunged in Ohio. 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 sealed. 

  • If you were never charged or if you were found not delinquent (not guilty), your record should automatically be sealed. You should not have to do anything to get your record sealed. 
  • If you are currently under 18, your record can be sealed six months after your case, probation, or commitment ends. 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. 
  • If you are currently 18 or older, your record can be sealed any time after your case, probation, or commitment ends. 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. 

Most juvenile records can be expunged.   

  • If your record has been sealed, it should be automatically expunged when you turn 23 or five years after it was sealed, whichever comes first. You should not have to do anything to get your record expunged. 
  • You can also submit a request to the court to expunge your record any time after it has been sealed, but it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request. 
  • If your record is for a prostitution-related offense that occurred because you were a victim of human trafficking, it can be expunged at any time. 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 adjudications on your record, have an open case, are currently on probation or committed to a facility or treatment program, or have pending juvenile charges. 

You may not be eligible for expungement if you have certain adjudications on your record, have an open case, are currently on probation or committed to a facility or treatment program, or have pending 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

Records relating to a case referred to the court but resolved without the filing of a complaint will be sealed immediately by the court. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.356(B)(1)(b).
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Records of an alcohol-related offense for which the person successfully completed a diversion program will be sealed immediately. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.356(B)(1)(c).
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Records relating to a matter dismissed after a trial or for which the person was found not delinquent will be promptly ordered to be immediately sealed. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.356(B)(1)(d).
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Records relating to an adjudication of delinquency can be sealed upon petition, so long as the person is not under the jurisdiction of the court in relation to a complaint alleging the person to be a delinquent child, six months have passed since termination or relief from registration, and the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.356(C)(1).
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Records relating to an adjudication of delinquency can be sealed upon petition, so long as the person is not under the jurisdiction of the court in relation to a complaint alleging the person to be a delinquent child, at least 18 years of age, and not subject to a disqualifying event. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.356(C)(1).
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Sealed records relating to a juvenile delinquency matter will be expunged on the earlier of five years after the court issues a sealing order or upon the 23rd birthday of the person who is the subject of the sealing order. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.358(A).
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Sealed records relating to a juvenile delinquency matter can be expunged upon petition, if the court finds that the person has been rehabilitated to a satisfactory degree. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.358(B).
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Records relating to an adjudication for solicitation, loitering to engage in solicitation, or prostitution can be expunged upon petition, so long as the person's participation in the act was a result of the person having been a victim of human trafficking. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.358(E).
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A record relating to a matter where charges were not filed or referred to the juvenile court will be sealed immediately by the court. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2151.356(B)(1)(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.

Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati – Wilmington

Service area: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren counties

Ohio Justice and Policy Center

Service area: Cincinnati Area

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services – Athens

Service area: Athens, Galia, Meigs, Morgan, Noble, Vinton, and Washington counties

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services – Chillicothe

Service area: Fairfield, Fayette, Hocking, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, and Ross counties

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services - Columbus

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services administrative office

Community Legal Aid – Akron

Service area: Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, Stark, Trumbull, and Wayne counties

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services – Newark

Service area: Knox, Licking, Muskingum, and Perry counties

Community Legal Aid – Canton

Service area: Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, Stark, Trumbull, and Wayne counties

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services – New Philadelphia

Service area: Coshocton, Guernsey, Holmes, and Tuscarawas counties

Community Legal Aid – Warren

Service area: Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, Stark, Trumbull, and Wayne counties

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services – Portsmouth

Service area: Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto counties

Community Legal Aid – Youngstown

Service area: Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, Stark, Trumbull, and Wayne counties

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services – Steubenville

Service area: Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, and Monroe counties

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Service area: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties

Legal Aid of Western Ohio

Service area: Lucas, Ottawa, Wood, Erie, Defiance, Huron, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford, Hancock, Allen, Ashland, Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Darke, Greene, Montgomery, Preble, Richland, Champaign, Clark, Logan, Miami, and Shelby counties

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland – Jefferson

Service area: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties

University of Akron's Reentry Clinic

Service area: Summit County

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland – Painesville

Service area: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties

Legal Aid of Western Ohio

Service area: Lucas, Ottawa, Wood, Erie, Defiance, Huron, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford, Hancock, Allen, Ashland, Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Darke, Greene, Montgomery, Preble, Richland, Champaign, Clark, Logan, Miami, and Shelby counties

Legal Aid Society Columbus

Service area: Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Marion, Maro, and Union counties

Children's Law Center

Service area: Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties Clearance services available only for those with juvenile records.

Legal Aid Society of Columbus – Marion

Service area: Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Marion, Maro, and Union counties

Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati

Service area: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren counties

Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati – Hamilton

Service area: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren counties

Court Forms & Resources

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CSG Justice Center

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