Pillar · Clean Slate
The 12 states with automatic record sealing.
A Clean Slate law tells the state to seal records that meet the eligibility criteria — without you filing. The trigger conditions, offense exclusions, and restitution rules vary state to state. Use the tiles below to read each state's rules, or scan the comparison table.
Browse by state
Comparison: triggers and statute
| State | Statute | Last verified |
|---|---|---|
| California | Cal. Penal Code § 1203.425 | May 4, 2026 |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-72-706 (eligibility) + § 13-3-117 (process) | May 4, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a (subsection (e)) | May 4, 2026 |
| Delaware | Del. Code tit. 11 § 4373A | May 4, 2026 |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.621g | May 4, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 | May 4, 2026 |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. § 2C:52-5.4 (automated) + § 2C:52-5.3 (petition) | May 4, 2026 |
| New York | N.Y. C.P.L. § 160.57 | May 4, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 18 (with § 19 governing process) | May 4, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122.2 | May 4, 2026 |
| Utah | Utah Code § 77-40a-201 | May 4, 2026 |
| Virginia | Va. Code § 19.2-392.7 | May 4, 2026 |
What “automatic” really means
Every Clean Slate state runs the same basic loop: the state criminal history repository identifies records that meet the eligibility criteria, marks them as sealed, and (in most states) notifies the courts and law enforcement to update their records accordingly. The public-facing background-check picture changes — the FBI-fingerprint and law-enforcement view typically does not.
Three caveats matter:
- It's not instant. Most states process automatic sealing in batches — quarterly or annually. Your record may meet the criteria today but show up as sealed several months later.
- Restitution and unpaid fines block automatic sealing in nearly every state. The eligibility clock typically does not start until financial obligations are fully discharged.
- Some categories are excluded — sex offenses, most violent felonies, and (in some states) DUIs. The exclusions pillar covers what each state leaves out.
If you're in a Clean Slate state and your record qualifies, the most useful next step is to verify the seal with the state criminal history repository — most have a free or low-cost personal copy request. If the seal hasn't happened and you believe it should have, an expungement attorney can help you escalate.
Read the substance
- When the eligibility clock actually starts — release vs. supervision vs. restitution.
- Why unpaid restitution blocks automatic sealing — most common silent block.
- What most states leave out — sex offenses, violent felonies, narrow carve-outs.
- Sealing and professional licensing — FBI checks vs. consumer reports.
- Multi-state records — when sealing in one state doesn't reach another.