- What:seal the record.
- Eligible:depends on outcome.
- Limits:some access remains.
- Gather:case info to assess.
Expungement is the court process for sealing eligible criminal records from public access. It can help with employment, housing, licensing, education, and reputation, but eligibility depends on the case outcome, charge level, timing, criminal history, agency records, and current Minnesota law.
What Expungement Can Do
An expungement order may limit public access to court and agency records. In some cases, it may make a record harder for employers, landlords, or background-check companies to find.
What Expungement Cannot Always Do
Expungement does not always erase every record from every system. Some government agencies may still retain or access records depending on the order, statute, and purpose of the request.
Cases That May Be Eligible
- Dismissed cases.
- Stays of adjudication.
- Petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors.
- Some eligible felony matters.
- Older cases where statutory waiting periods have passed.
Information to Gather
Useful information includes the original charge, county, court file number, disposition, discharge date, probation history, new charges since the case ended, and the reason sealing matters now.
Updated May 18, 2026 · Law verified as of May 29, 2026. This article is general information about Minnesota law, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does expungement erase my criminal record?
Not always. Expungement usually seals eligible records from public access, but some government access may remain depending on the record and order.
Can a dismissed case be expunged?
Dismissed cases may be eligible, but the exact analysis depends on the case, timing, record type, and applicable law.
Can a felony be expunged?
Some felony matters may be eligible. Felony expungement is highly case-specific and should be reviewed carefully.
How long does expungement take?
Timing varies by county, notice requirements, agency responses, objections, and whether a hearing is required.
Will expungement remove my record from background checks?
It may help, but background-check results depend on the source, timing, private databases, and whether agencies update their records.
Related guides
Can I Expunge My Criminal Record in Minnesota?
Whether you can expunge your Minnesota criminal record — eligibility by offense level, waiting periods, what's excluded, and how automatic Clean Slate...
Read the guideJuvenile Records in Minnesota: Confidentiality and Expungement
How juvenile records work in Minnesota — what's confidential, what can become public, what follows a child into adulthood, and how juvenile record exp...
Read the guidePrisoners' Rights in Minnesota: What Rights Remain Behind Bars
Incarcerated people keep some constitutional rights. Learn what remains in Minnesota prisons — due process, court access, good time, discipline — and ...
Read the guideThe information on this article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.