Clearing a criminal record in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts it is called sealing (CORI sealing) or expungement: sealing hides the record: the Probation Service reports 'no record' to most people who ask. Some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be cleared, and Massachusetts also clears some records automatically.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026. · Free letter and checklist ↓
Can my record be cleared in Massachusetts?
Sealing (CORI sealing); expungement — Sealing hides the record: the Probation Service reports 'no record' to most people who ask, but police, courts and some employers and agencies allowed by law can still see it. Expungement permanently destroys the record so no court or agency can access it.
Massachusetts has 4 ways to clear a record. Each covers different records and has its own waiting period.
Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation (G.L. c. 276, § 100A)
Misdemeanor and felony convictions and other court appearances on your adult record. Offenses that are no longer crimes can be sealed right away.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Misdemeanor | 3 years You may ask to seal a misdemeanor 3 years after the case ended, including any time in custody, if you have no new guilty finding in that time. | The later of the guilty finding or the end of any jail or prison time |
Felony | 7 years You may ask to seal a felony 7 years after the case ended, including any time in custody, if you have no new guilty finding in that time. | The later of the guilty finding or the end of any prison time |
Eligible sex offense | 15 years Sex offenses can be sealed only after 15 years, or after your duty to register ends, whichever is later. | Disposition, including end of supervision, probation or incarceration (or longer while you must register) |
Offense that is no longer a crime | No waiting period You may ask to seal it right away. | Anytime |
- Not eligible
- Firearms convictions under c. 140 §§ 121-131H; convictions under c. 268 (crimes against public justice, e.g. perjury) except resisting arrest; c. 268A (ethics) convictions; sex offenders ever classified Level 2 or Level 3. Violations of restraining orders count as felonies for the waiting period. Under § 100A(5), the Commissioner seals only if your record has no conviction for one of these excluded offenses.
- Limits
- The waiting period applies to your whole record: a new conviction or jail time restarts it.
Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100A
Source: Official text
Court sealing of not-guilty, no-bill, nolle prosequi and dismissed cases (G.L. c. 276, § 100C)
Cases that ended in not guilty, no bill by the grand jury, or no probable cause (sealed automatically); cases that ended in nolle prosequi or dismissal (sealed by a judge on petition).
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Not guilty, no bill, or no probable cause | No waiting period These are sealed automatically unless you ask in writing that they not be sealed. | The disposition |
Nolle prosequi or dismissal | No waiting period You may file a petition at any time; a judge decides whether sealing serves 'substantial justice'. | The disposition |
Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100C
Source: Official text
Time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, §§ 100F-100J)
Up to 2 records (charges from one incident count as one) — convictions, juvenile adjudications or non-conviction records — for offenses committed before your 21st birthday.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Misdemeanor(s) only | 3 years You may file 3 years after every part of the sentence is finished. | The end of the case, including any incarceration, custody or probation |
Record includes a felony | 7 years You may file 7 years after every part of the sentence is finished. | The end of the case, including any incarceration, custody or probation |
- Not eligible
- Offenses causing (or meant to cause) death or serious bodily injury; offenses while armed with a dangerous weapon; offenses against an elderly or disabled person; sex offenses; OUI; firearms offenses; violating restraining or harassment orders; assault and battery on a family or household member; any felony under c. 265. You also cannot have any other record in Massachusetts or elsewhere (except minor traffic fines up to $50) or be under active criminal investigation.
- Limits
- No more than 2 records in total; all offenses must have occurred before age 21.
Law: G.L. c. 276, §§ 100F, 100G, 100H, 100I, 100J
Source: Official text
Non-time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, § 100K)
Records created because of false identification or identity theft, an offense that is no longer a crime, or demonstrable errors by police, witnesses or court staff, or fraud on the court.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Any qualifying record | No waiting period No waiting period; you must prove the reason by clear and convincing evidence. | Anytime |
Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100K
Source: Official text
When can I file? Waiting periods in Massachusetts
Pick your kind of case and the date the waiting period runs from. We add the waiting period from the law; nothing else.
How to file in Massachusetts
Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation (G.L. c. 276, § 100A)
Mail or bring the Petition to Seal to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, One Ashburton Place, Room 405, Boston, MA 02108. No court hearing is needed if you meet the rules; the Commissioner seals the record and tells the courts to seal their files.
- Cost
- No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record).
Court sealing of not-guilty, no-bill, nolle prosequi and dismissed cases (G.L. c. 276, § 100C)
File the Petition to Seal Criminal Records for Nolle Prosequi or Dismissal at the clerk's office of the court where the case started. The judge reviews it and may hold a hearing. You explain how the open record harms you and what you have done since; the judge weighs that against public access.
Source: notice is posted for at least 7 days
- Cost
- No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record).
Time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, §§ 100F-100J)
Mail the Petition to Expunge to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. Probation checks eligibility and notifies the District Attorney, who has 60 days (30 days for non-conviction records) to object. The petition then goes to the court; if the DA objects, a hearing is held within 21 days. The judge decides based on the interests of justice.
- Cost
- Free (Mass.gov, Request a time-based expungement).
Non-time-based expungement (G.L. c. 276, § 100K)
File the Petition for Expungement in the clerk's office of the court where the case was heard, and give a copy to the District Attorney's office on or before the filing day. A hearing is held if you or the DA ask for one.
Court self-help
Free help in Massachusetts
- Office of the Commissioner of Probation (questions on sealing and expungement) · (617) 727-5300
- MassLegalHelp — CORI and criminal records
- Greater Boston Legal Services — CORI & Re-Entry Project
- Find free legal aid at LawHelp.org
National help
Free letter and checklist
Letter: ask for a copy of your own record
A request to the state records office (Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) — iCORI; court records held by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation) with your name, date of birth and mailing address.
Checklist: what to gather before you file
Case numbers, court papers, proof you finished your sentence, forms and fees for Massachusetts.
Clearing a record in Massachusetts by topic
Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation (G.L. c. 276, § 100A) in Massachusetts
Which records each remedy covers, who is not eligible and what changes afterwards.
Waiting periods in Massachusetts
How long you wait for each kind of case, and a date helper.
How to file in Massachusetts
The steps, the cost, fee waivers, the forms and court self-help.
Automatic relief in Massachusetts
- Law
- Automatic sealing of not-guilty, no-bill and no-probable-cause cases
- What is cleared
- When a case ends in not guilty, a grand jury no bill, or a finding of no probable cause, the Commissioner of Probation and the court seal it without a petition, unless you ask in writing that it not be sealed. Convictions are not sealed automatically.
Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100C
Marijuana records in Massachusetts
A judge must, within 30 days of your petition, order expungement of records for possession or cultivation of amounts of marijuana that are now legal or decriminalized (2 ounces or less; 10 ounces or less in your home; up to 6 plants for personal use / 12 on the premises), including intent to distribute or distribution based on those amounts. Separately, the Governor's pardon approved by the Governor's Council on April 3, 2024 forgives all Massachusetts misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions before March 13, 2024 (it does not cover people who were under 21 on the date of the pardon, possession with intent, distribution, OUI, or cases continued without a finding); records are being updated automatically, and you may request a pardon certificate and ask for sealing on that form.
Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100K¼
Source: form TC0021
Juvenile records in Massachusetts
You may ask the Commissioner of Probation to seal a juvenile delinquency record 3 years after all parts of the case ended, if you have no new adjudication, conviction or commitment in that time. Juvenile adjudications for offenses before age 21 may also qualify for time-based expungement.
Law: G.L. c. 276, § 100B; § 100F
Pardons in Massachusetts
- Who decides
- The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Governor's Council; the Parole Board acts as the Advisory Board of Pardons
- How
- File a written pardon petition with the Parole Board (Executive Clemency Unit). The Board reviews it and may hold a hearing, then advises the Governor. If granted and approved by the Council, all records of the pardoned offense are sealed, and you may answer 'no' when asked whether you were convicted of it.
Law: G.L. c. 127, §§ 152, 154
After your record is cleared in Massachusetts
With a sealed record you may answer 'no record' to questions about prior arrests, court appearances or convictions on applications for employment, housing, or an occupational or professional license; the Commissioner reports 'no record' to most inquirers, but police, courts and certain agencies or employers allowed by law can still see it, and it can be used for sentencing in a later case. After expungement you can say you have no record and cannot be charged with perjury or a false statement for not acknowledging it (G.L. c.
Law: 276, §§ 100A, 100C, 100Q
Get your own record in Massachusetts
Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) — iCORI; court records held by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation · (617) 660-4640
Create a MyMassGov account and request your Personal CORI online through iCORI ($25 per request; an indigent fee waiver is available at $0). Paper requests by mail are accepted from people who cannot use iCORI. Juvenile records: use the Personal Massachusetts Juvenile Court Activity Record Information Request Form sent to the Probation Service.
Letter: ask the state records office for a copy of your record
Good to know in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts expungement (destruction) is mostly limited to offenses committed before age 21 and to people with no more than 2 records; most adults use sealing instead.
Law: G.L. c. 276, §§ 100A, 100I
- The 2024 marijuana pardon covers about all pre-March 13, 2024 misdemeanor possession convictions automatically, but it does not seal the record by itself.
Source: Mass.gov Marijuana Pardons FAQ
- Sealing and both kinds of expungement petitions cost nothing to file (Mass.gov).
Changes in 2024–2026
Governor Healey's marijuana possession pardon took effect April 3, 2024 after Governor's Council approval; it covers Massachusetts state misdemeanor possession convictions before March 13, 2024. Bills to shorten sealing waits and automate sealing (S.1114 / H.1811, 2025-2026) were still pending (S.1114 sent to Senate Ways and Means); § 100A text is unchanged as of October 2026.
Questions about clearing a record in Massachusetts
What is clearing a record called in Massachusetts?
Sealing (CORI sealing); expungement. Sealing hides the record: the Probation Service reports 'no record' to most people who ask, but police, courts and some employers and agencies allowed by law can still see it. Expungement permanently destroys the record so no court or agency can access it.
Can convictions be cleared in Massachusetts?
Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation: Misdemeanor and felony convictions and other court appearances on your adult record. Offenses that are no longer crimes can be sealed right away. Court sealing of not-guilty, no-bill, nolle prosequi and dismissed cases: Cases that ended in not guilty, no bill by the grand jury, or no probable cause (sealed automatically); cases that ended in nolle prosequi or dismissal (sealed by a judge on petition). Time-based expungement: Up to 2 records (charges from one incident count as one) — convictions, juvenile adjudications or non-conviction records — for offenses committed before your 21st birthday. Non-time-based expungement: Records created because of false identification or identity theft, an offense that is no longer a crime, or demonstrable errors by police, witnesses or court staff, or fraud on the court.
How long do I have to wait in Massachusetts?
Misdemeanor: 3 years, counted from the later of the guilty finding or the end of any jail or prison time; Felony: 7 years, counted from the later of the guilty finding or the end of any prison time; Eligible sex offense: 15 years, counted from disposition, including end of supervision, probation or incarceration (or longer while you must register); Offense that is no longer a crime: No waiting period, counted from anytime.
Does Massachusetts clear records automatically?
When a case ends in not guilty, a grand jury no bill, or a finding of no probable cause, the Commissioner of Probation and the court seal it without a petition, unless you ask in writing that it not be sealed. Convictions are not sealed automatically.
How much does it cost to clear a record in Massachusetts?
Sealing of convictions by the Commissioner of Probation: No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record). Court sealing of not-guilty, no-bill, nolle prosequi and dismissed cases: No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record). Time-based expungement: Free (Mass.gov, Request a time-based expungement).
Can a marijuana record be cleared in Massachusetts?
A judge must, within 30 days of your petition, order expungement of records for possession or cultivation of amounts of marijuana that are now legal or decriminalized (2 ounces or less; 10 ounces or less in your home; up to 6 plants for personal use / 12 on the premises), including intent to distribute or distribution based on those amounts. Separately, the Governor's pardon approved by the Governor's Council on April 3, 2024 forgives all Massachusetts misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions before March 13, 2024 (it does not cover people who were under 21 on the date of the pardon, possession with intent, distribution, OUI, or cases continued without a finding); records are being updated automatically, and you may request a pardon certificate and ask for sealing on that form.
Can juvenile records be cleared in Massachusetts?
You may ask the Commissioner of Probation to seal a juvenile delinquency record 3 years after all parts of the case ended, if you have no new adjudication, conviction or commitment in that time. Juvenile adjudications for offenses before age 21 may also qualify for time-based expungement.
What can I say after my record is cleared in Massachusetts?
With a sealed record you may answer 'no record' to questions about prior arrests, court appearances or convictions on applications for employment, housing, or an occupational or professional license; the Commissioner reports 'no record' to most inquirers, but police, courts and certain agencies or employers allowed by law can still see it, and it can be used for sentencing in a later case. After expungement you can say you have no record and cannot be charged with perjury or a false statement for not acknowledging it (G.L. c.
How do I get a copy of my criminal record in Massachusetts?
Create a MyMassGov account and request your Personal CORI online through iCORI ($25 per request; an indigent fee waiver is available at $0). Paper requests by mail are accepted from people who cannot use iCORI. Juvenile records: use the Personal Massachusetts Juvenile Court Activity Record Information Request Form sent to the Probation Service.
Where can I get free help in Massachusetts?
Office of the Commissioner of Probation (questions on sealing and expungement), MassLegalHelp — CORI and criminal records and Greater Boston Legal Services — CORI & Re-Entry Project.