What is the difference between sealing and expunging your record

Expungement and sealing are two different options that remove records from public view. Expungement erases the record so that it's like it never happened. Sealing means that it is just hidden from most of the public's view, but certain agencies and employers can still see it.

Expungement can remove arrests, court supervisions, and certain probations from your criminal record. You cannot expunge convictions. A conviction is when you are found guilty and sentenced to:. However, employers required by law to do background checks can still see sealed felony convictions. Usually, these employers will require you to be fingerprinted. Examples of these employers are:. No other employer can see any cases that are sealed. Landlords also cannot see any record that has been sealed.

Law enforcement agencies, on the other hand, can still see sealed records. Records that are expunged or sealed cannot be accessed by anyone without a court order, including you. Only logged-in users can post comments. Please log in or register if you want to leave a comment. We do our best to reply to each comment. We can't give legal advice in the comments, so if you have a question or need legal help, please go to Get Legal Help.

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately we cannot help people with their individual legal problems as this would constitute legal advice. We encourage you to find a lawyer in your area who can read your court order and determine its effect. You can use our Get Legal Help tool to find legal help in your area.

Here is some information about what criminal offenses can be expunged or sealed. We also have contact information for getting help sealing or expunging a criminal record , that might help you. If you need more information or assistance you can try our get legal help page. All rights reserved. ILAO is a registered c 3 nonprofit organization. ILAO's tax identification number is Select your language English Spanish. We simplify the law so you can get justice. Worried about doing this on your own?

With sealing, technically called an Order for Limited Access in Pennsylvania, the record still exists but it is not publicly accessible. If a record is expunged, then no record should exist, and people cannot see or find a record that does not exist. With a sealed record, the public cannot see the record, meaning such records should not appear on criminal background searches. However, the police, prosecutors, and judge can generally see and consider such a sealed record when determining how to resolve a pending case.

It must be noted that there are some limited situations in which a person must report or disclose expunged or sealed charges on applications. For example, a person with an expunged or sealed conviction may still need to report the prior convictions on security clearances with the Federal government, on applications to purchase guns, ARD applications, and Visa and immigration applications. If you live or have a case in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas or Sarasota counties, we may be able to help.

How do I apply? Am I eligible? Skip to main content Skip to main menu. Breadcrumb Home Get Help What is the difference between expungement and sealing? What is the difference between expungement and sealing?

If a record is expunged, the record is destroyed. You can deny that you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, except under certain circumstances. You can also deny to your local Housing Authority, apartment complexes, many employers, and more.