Below is a general overview of when juvenile records can be sealed in Massachusetts. Please note that the Clean Slate Clearinghouse does not provide legal advice.
Read the legal policies and statutes for detailed statutory information.
Juvenile Record Clearance Policies Overview
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If you think you might be eligible to have your record sealed, find a lawyer who may be able to help you. Some lawyers might help you for free, although you may still need to pay a fee to file the paperwork in court.
Court Forms and Resources
If you cannot find a lawyer to help you, you may be able to file a petition on your own using these court forms and resources.
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Contact information for legal aid organizations, bar associations, and other organizations that engage in record clearance work is provided for informational purposes only. The Clean Slate Clearinghouse does not endorse or recommend any organization or individual referenced on the site. If you are a legal service provider who offers record clearance services, please contact us.
Service area: Statewide
Clearance services available for those with juvenile records.
Service area: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties
Service area: Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boston, Boxborough, Braintree, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Everett, Harvard, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Malden, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, Norwell, North Reading, Randolph, Reading, Revere, Scituate, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weymouth, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, and Quincy counties
Service area: Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties
Records of a misdemeanor case may be sealed by the commissioner of probation three years after sentence completion, if petitioner meets specified criteria. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100A.
View DetailsRecords of arrest and court proceedings for an offense that is no longer a crime can be expunged by the court immediately. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100K(a)(2).
View DetailsRecords of a felony case may be sealed by the commissioner of probation seven years after sentence completion, if petitioner meets specified criteria. GL ch. 276, § 100A.
Cases that ended in a "file" or "guilty file" disposition must be sealed under this provision even though the "file" disposition is classified as a "non-conviction" on a criminal background report obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
View DetailsRecords of a sex offense conviction can be sealed by the commissioner of probation 15 years after sentence completion, if the petitioner meets the specified criteria. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100A(6).
View DetailsRecords of any offense which is no longer a crime can be sealed by the commissioner of probation at any time. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100A(2).
View DetailsRecords of a case for which a pardon has been granted are sealed immediately. ALM GL ch. 127, § 152.
View DetailsRecords of a prostitution-related or drug possession case can be vacated at any time if the person's participation in the offense resulted from being a victim of human trafficking. ALM GL ch. 265, § 59.
View DetailsRecords of conviction for a first-offense misdemeanor committed before age 21 can be expunged by the court after three years. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100G, I.
View DetailsRecords of conviction for a first-offense felony committed before age 21 can be expunged by the court after seven years. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100G, I.
View DetailsRecords of a first controlled substance case dismissed after successful completion of probation or continuance can be sealed by the court immediately. ALM GL ch. 94C, § 34.
View DetailsRecords are expunged or sealed by the court upon entry of a judgment or settlement agreement that a person was erroneously convicted and incarcerated for a felony. ALM GL ch. 258D, § 7.
View DetailsRecords of arrest and court proceedings created as a result of false identification or identity theft can be expunged by the court immediately. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100K(a)(1).
View DetailsRecords of arrest and court proceedings created as a result of errors by law enforcement, witnesses, or court employees, or of a fraud upon the court, can be expunged by the court immediately. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100K(a)(3)-(6).
View DetailsRecords of a case will be sealed by the court and probation officials upon a no bill returned by the grand jury. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100C.
View DetailsRecords of a case resolved by a finding of not guilty, a finding of no probable cause, a nolle prosequi, or a dismissal can be sealed by the court immediately. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100C, ALM GL ch. 94C, § 44.
View DetailsRecords of a misdemeanor case resolved by a finding of not guilty, a finding of no probable cause, a nolle prosequi, or a dismissal can be sealed by the commissioner of probation after five years. ALM CL ch. 276, § 100A.
View DetailsRecords of a felony case resolved by a finding of not guilty, a finding of no probable cause, a nolle prosequi, or a dismissal can be sealed by the commissioner of probation after 10 years. ALM CL ch. 276, § 100A.
View DetailsRecords of a sex offense case resolved by a finding of not guilty, a finding of no probable cause, a nolle prosequi, or a dismissal can be sealed by the commissioner of probation after 15 years. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100A.
View DetailsRecords of arrest and court proceedings for a misdemeanor that did not lead to conviction can be expunged, so long as the petitioner was under 21 and had no other charges or convictions. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100H, I.
View DetailsRecords of arrest and court proceedings for a felony that did not lead to conviction can be expunged, so long as the petitioner was under 21 and had no other charges or convictions. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100H, I.
View DetailsA record relating to any juvenile court appearance on file in the Office of the Commissioner of Probation can be sealed, so long as the person is not subject to any disqualifying event and at least three years have passed from any court appearance or disposition. ALM GL ch. 276, § 100B.
View DetailsA record relating to a delinquency or youthful offender adjudication for a misdemeanor can be expunged by the court after three years. Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. 276 §§ 100F, 100I.
View DetailsA record relating to a delinquency or youthful offender adjudication for a felony can be expunged by the court after seven years. Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. 276 §§ 100F, 100I.
View DetailsA record relating to a delinquency or youthful offender misdemeanor case that did not lead to adjudication can be expunged by the court after three years. Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. 276 §§ 100H, 100I.
View DetailsA record relating to a delinquency or youthful offender felony case that did not lead to adjudication can be expunged by the court after seven years. Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. 276 §§ 100H, 100I.
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