HelpSealMyRecord.org: Sealing Criminal Records to Enhance Justice

Resources for Help Sealing Your Criminal Records

Talk with an attorney:

Volunteer Lawyers Network

  • Phone: 612-752-6677
  • Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Mitchell-Hamline Law School Re-Entry Clinic

  • Phone: 651-290-6369
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (only for those who have served prison time)

Neighborhood Justice Center

  • Phone: (651) 222-4703
  • If you live in: Ramsey, Dakota, Washington Counties.

Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota

  • Phone: 800-933-1112 (Mainline), 800-933-1112 (Duluth Office)
  • If you live in Carleton, Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Koochiching, Cotton, Itasca, Aikin, Cass, Crow Wing, Kanabec, Pine Counties.

Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota

  • Phone Number: 218-751-9201
  • If you live in: Douglas, Grant, Ottertail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Wadena, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Becker, Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wilkin Counties.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)

  • Phone: 1-877-696-6529
  • If you live in: Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Scott, Carver, Freeborn, Mower, Rice, Steele, Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, McCloud, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, Watonwan, Dodge, Filmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmstead, Wabasha, Winona, Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock Counties.

Do-it-Yourself Resources:

Ramsey County Law Library – Expungement Forms Clinic

  • Phone: 651-266-8391
  • Hours: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Location: 18th Floor, Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
  • *Attorneys will be available to help you

Statewide Minnesota Judicial Branch Self-Help Centers

  • Phone: (651) 435-6535
  • Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • * Self-Help Center workstations are available in all county courthouses except Hennepin and Ramsey
  • ** You may also find information about the expungement process and forms at this website.

Apply to Seal Your Records

The Attorney General’s Office is no longer accepting applications for expungement.

If your conviction happened in Blue Earth, Hennepin, Ramsey, or Washington, Counties you may select that county here and complete their form. Otherwise, you may contact the prosecuting authority where your conviction occurred for information about expungement of convictions in that county.

 

 

According to the FBI, nearly one in three adults in America has a criminal record. Long after people have atoned for the harm they caused and fulfilled their obligations to the justice system, criminal records and the collateral consequences that follow serve as barriers to jobs, housing, education and more, preventing people from serving as productive members of our community. Studies have shown very few people who are eligible to seal their records successfully apply, but among those whose records are sealed, very few commit new crimes and, on average, they experience a significant increase in wages and employment within the next two years.

Is your criminal record a barrier in your life?

Sealing, or expunging, a criminal record can make it easier for you to obtain housing, get a job and certain types of job-related licenses.

What criminal records can be sealed?

Eligibility is limited to offenses that appear in the Minnesota Expungement Statute. Below are some of the most common eligible offenses:

View a complete list of eligible offenses

Waiting Periods

Most criminal records have a waiting period before the Court can grant an expungement. In order to qualify, you must remain crime-free during the waiting period. In most cases, the waiting period starts when you are discharged from probation. A new offense can extend the waiting period or disqualify you from eligibility.

The waiting period can vary from zero to five years or more. For example, if you received a stay of adjudication or participated in diversion, you may be eligible one year after completing your agreed-upon terms. If your entire felony case was dismissed, or you were acquitted by the Court or a jury, you may be eligible without a waiting period.

How do I apply to have my criminal record sealed?

The Attorney General’s Office is no longer accepting applications for expungement.

If your conviction happened in Blue Earth, Hennepin, Ramsey, or Washington, Counties you may select that county here and complete their form. Otherwise, you may contact the prosecuting authority where your conviction occurred for information about expungement of convictions in that county.

More Information

For more information click on the button below to see frequently asked questions.