How to file to clear a record in Rhode Island
Where and how you file in Rhode Island, the fee and the official forms.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
File a Motion to Expunge or Seal Record and Affidavit in the court where you were convicted. The clerk sets a hearing at least 10 days out; you must notify the Attorney General and the police department that charged you.
- Main remedy
- Expungement of conviction (first offender)
- Forms
- 5
Where and how to file in Rhode Island
Expungement of conviction (first offender)
File a Motion to Expunge or Seal Record and Affidavit in the court where you were convicted. The clerk sets a hearing at least 10 days out; you must notify the Attorney General and the police department that charged you. The judge decides whether you are rehabilitated and expungement is in the public interest. If granted, you deliver certified copies of the order to BCI and the police.
- If you can't pay
- The court may reduce or waive outstanding fines, fees and costs.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-2(a)
Expungement of multiple misdemeanors
Same motion and hearing process as first-offender expungement, in the court where the convictions occurred.
Sealing of records after acquittal, dismissal or exoneration
Rule 48(a) dismissals since 2023 are sealed automatically; older ones are sealed by the clerk at your request. For other exonerations, file a motion to seal in the court that handled the case.
Court self-help
Exclusions in Rhode Island
- Expungement of conviction (first offender): Crimes of violence: murder, manslaughter, first-degree arson, kidnapping with intent to extort, robbery, larceny from the person, first- and second-degree sexual assault, first- and second-degree child molestation, assault with intent to murder, rob or commit first-degree sexual assault, burglary, and entering a dwelling with intent to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault or larceny. All court fines, fees and costs must be paid unless the court reduces or waives them.
- Expungement of multiple misdemeanors: Domestic violence offenses, DUI and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Any felony conviction makes you ineligible for this route.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1 to 12-1.3-4; § 12-19-19(c); R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-2(b), (f); R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-3(b)(1)(iii)
Get your own record in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) · 401-274-4400
Ask the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), 4 Howard Avenue, Cranston, for a state-only BCI check by name and date of birth, with photo ID. A state-only check costs $5; a national fingerprint check is extra. Many local police departments also run state BCI checks for $5 for their residents.
Letter: ask the state records office for a copy of your record
What changes afterwards
After expungement you may state that you have never been convicted of the crime on job, license and other applications, except when applying to a law enforcement agency, the bar, for a teaching or coaching certificate, or to run or work at an early childhood education facility. An expunged conviction can count as a prior conviction for sentencing.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1.3-4
In nearby states
- Massachusetts: No fee (Mass.gov, Request to seal your criminal record).
- Connecticut: No court fee for any petition under this section.
- Vermont: No filing fee (Vermont Judiciary; 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e)).
Steps to file in Rhode Island
Get your papers ready
You need your case numbers, court papers and proof you finished your sentence. Checklist: what to gather before you file.
Use the court's forms
Use the official forms and instructions: RI Judiciary - Judicial Records Center: Expungement Information.
File and serve
File the petition with the clerk and follow the court's rules for notice to the prosecutor.
Talk to legal aid
Free help: Rhode Island Legal Services.
Where to get free help in Rhode Island
Questions about filing in Rhode Island
How long do I have to wait in Rhode Island?
Misdemeanor conviction, first offender: 5 years, counted from completion of sentence; Felony conviction, first offender: 10 years, counted from completion of sentence; Deferred sentence completed: No waiting period, counted from completion of the deferment period; Offense later decriminalized: No waiting period, counted from completion of sentence.
Where do I get my own record in Rhode Island?
Ask the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), 4 Howard Avenue, Cranston, for a state-only BCI check by name and date of birth, with photo ID. A state-only check costs $5; a national fingerprint check is extra. Many local police departments also run state BCI checks for $5 for their residents.