Felony Expungement: Which States Allow It?
Updated April 2026 · 8 min read
A felony conviction carries serious long-term consequences — background checks, voting rights, professional licensing barriers, housing discrimination. But in most U.S. states, felony expungement is possible. Here's the full picture.
The Short Answer
Most states allow expungement or sealing of at least some felonies. Very few states prohibit it entirely. The eligibility criteria vary enormously: the severity of the felony, the waiting period, whether you have subsequent offenses, and the specific statutory limits in your state all matter.
States With Broad Felony Expungement
These states offer meaningful felony relief, including for many serious offenses:
| State | Waiting Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | 1 year after probation | Most felonies (not prison sentences); automatic SB 731 for others |
| Michigan | 5 years after sentence | Up to 3 felonies; excludes life sentence crimes |
| Illinois | 3–5 years | Class 3, 4 felonies eligible; Class 2 and above limited |
| New Jersey | 5–6 years | Indictable offenses (NJ equivalent of felony); exclusions for serious violence |
| Nevada | 5–10 years | Category D, E felonies after 5 years; category B/C after 10 |
| Indiana | 8 years | Level 5–6 felonies; excludes sex offenses and violent crimes |
| Missouri | 7 years | Class C/D felonies; excludions for dangerous felonies |
| Connecticut | 10 years | Includes Class D felonies via Clean Slate Act |
| Pennsylvania | 10 years | F3 felonies via Clean Slate 3.0; petition for others |
| Colorado | 3–10 years by class | Class 5–6 felonies; separate marijuana expungement |
| Arizona | 2–5 years | New § 13-911 expungement (2023) + § 13-907 set aside |
| Washington | 10 years | "Vacation" process; Class B felonies generally; Class A very limited |
Felonies That Are Almost Never Expungeable
Regardless of state, these categories are typically excluded from expungement or sealing:
- Sex offenses requiring registration as a sex offender
- Murder and manslaughter
- Kidnapping
- Crimes against children
- Domestic violence felonies (some states)
- Offenses involving firearms used in violence
- DUI/OWI felonies (many states exclude these)
States With Limited or No Felony Expungement
A handful of states offer very limited or no felony relief:
- Massachusetts — Expungement available for limited categories only (youthful offenders, identity fraud); most adult felonies not eligible
- Florida — Only non-convictions (arrests without conviction) qualify; convicted felonies are not expungeable
- Alabama — Very limited; primarily non-convictions
- Mississippi — Limited felony expungement; only first-time nonviolent felonies with no subsequent offense
- North Carolina — More limited eligibility than most states; strict offense restrictions
The Felony Expungement Process
For felony expungement, the petition process is generally more involved than for misdemeanors:
- Gather your full case history — Get your complete state criminal history, including all conviction dates, sentences, and completion dates
- Verify waiting periods carefully — Felony waiting periods are calculated differently in different states (from conviction, from sentence completion, from probation discharge, from release from prison)
- File the petition with detailed documentation — Felony petitions often require more supporting documentation: proof of rehabilitation, employment history, character references
- Prepare for a hearing — Felony petitions more often result in a court hearing where you present your case to a judge
- Respond to prosecutorial objections — The DA is more likely to object to a felony expungement; your attorney (strongly recommended) handles this
Should You Hire an Attorney for Felony Expungement?
For misdemeanor expungements in easy-to-navigate states, DIY filing is reasonable. For felony expungements, attorney representation is strongly recommended in almost all cases. The stakes are higher, the process is more complex, prosecutor objections are more common, and the judge has more discretion. A good expungement attorney can make the difference between approval and denial.
Cost: $1,500–$4,000 for most felony expungement cases. Legal aid organizations can help if you're income-eligible.
Look Up Your State's Felony Rules
Find out if your specific felony qualifies, your waiting period, and the step-by-step process.
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