Sealing of a conviction (qualifying misdemeanor) in Vermont: which records can be cleared
Each way to clear a record in Vermont, what it covers, the exclusions and the effect.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
In Vermont it is called sealing or expungement: sealing hides the record from the public. Some misdemeanor and felony convictions may be cleared, and Vermont also clears some records automatically.
- Main remedy
- Sealing of a conviction (qualifying misdemeanor)
- What it covers
- Most misdemeanor convictions.
- Ways to clear a record
- 7
- Automatic relief
- Yes
Which records can be cleared in Vermont
Sealing; expungement (only for conduct that is no longer a crime) — Sealing hides the record from the public: the court file becomes confidential and the public is told "no criminal record exists," but police, prosecutors and a few others can still use it. Expungement removes the record and destroys the court file, and since July 1, 2025 it is only for convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime.
Vermont has 7 ways to clear a record. Each covers different records and has its own waiting period.
Sealing of a conviction (qualifying misdemeanor)
Most misdemeanor convictions
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Qualifying misdemeanor conviction | 3 years Wait at least 3 years after you finished your sentence. | Completing the terms and conditions of the sentence |
- Not eligible
- Listed crimes; sexual exploitation of children; violating an abuse prevention, stalking, sexual assault or child-contact order; abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult; voyeurism; cruelty to animals or children; cruelty by a custodian; mistreating persons with impaired cognitive function; failure to comply with sex offender registry rules; hate-motivated crimes; female genital mutilation; violating an extreme risk protection order; offenses requiring sex offender registration; offenses in a motor vehicle by a commercial driver's license holder.
Law: 13 V.S.A. §§ 7601(4)(A), 7602(a)(2), 7602(c), 7604, 7605, 7608; 13 V.S.A. § 5301(7), mostly violent and serious crimes
Source: Official text
Sealing of a conviction (qualifying felony)
Only these felonies: burglary not into an occupied dwelling (or into an occupied dwelling if you were 25 or younger and had no weapon); listed property felonies (forgery, false pretenses, identity theft, grand larceny, embezzlement, receiving stolen property, retail theft, unlawful mischief, unlawful trespass, computer crimes and others); drug possession, cultivation, sale or transport felonies; and any offense for which the Governor granted an unconditional pardon.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Qualifying felony conviction | 7 years Wait at least 7 years after you finished your sentence. | Completing the terms and conditions of the sentence |
- Not eligible
- Any felony not on the qualifying list.
Law: 13 V.S.A. §§ 7601(4)(B), 7601(5), 7602(d)
Source: Official text
Sealing of a qualifying DUI misdemeanor
A qualifying misdemeanor DUI conviction
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Qualifying DUI misdemeanor | 10 years Wait at least 10 years after you finished your sentence. | Completing the terms and conditions of the sentence |
- Not eligible
- Not available if you hold a commercial driver's license or permit. A sealed DUI can still be used to enhance the penalty for a later DUI.
Law: 13 V.S.A. §§ 7602(e), 7607(c)(4); 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e)
Source: Official text
Sealing for offenses committed at ages 18-21
Qualifying crimes (misdemeanor or felony, as defined above) committed when you were 18 to 21 years old
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Qualifying crime committed at age 18-21 | See the rule You can ask once 30 days have passed after you finished your sentence. | Completing the terms and conditions of the sentence |
- Not eligible
- A record that includes both qualifying and non-qualifying offenses cannot be sealed under this rule.
Law: 13 V.S.A. § 7609
Source: Official text
Sealing for crimes committed before age 25 (33 V.S.A. § 5119(g))
Any Vermont conviction for a crime you committed before you turned 25
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Crime committed before age 25 | 2 years Wait at least 2 years after your final discharge. You also must not have been convicted of a listed (serious or violent) crime in the 10 years before you apply. | Final discharge from the sentence |
- Not eligible
- Not available if, in the 10 years before you apply, you were convicted of (or adjudicated delinquent for) a listed crime under 13 V.S.A. § 5301(7), or if such a case is pending.
Law: 33 V.S.A. § 5119(g)
Source: Official text
Sealing when there was no conviction
Arrests and citations with no probable cause found at arraignment, charges dismissed before trial (with or without prejudice), and acquittals
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Dismissed, acquitted or no probable cause | See the rule The court seals the record on its own within 60 days after the case ends, unless either side objects. | Final disposition |
Any arrest or citation without conviction (petition) | No waiting period You can also petition at any time; the court grants it if sealing serves the interests of justice or the prosecutor agrees. | Any time |
Law: 13 V.S.A. § 7603
Source: Official text
Expungement (conduct no longer a crime)
Convictions for conduct that is no longer prohibited by law
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Conviction for conduct that is no longer a crime | No waiting period No waiting period once you have finished any sentence or supervision and paid restitution and surcharges. | Completing the sentence or supervision |
Law: 13 V.S.A. §§ 7602(a)(1), 7602(b), 7606
Source: Official text
What you can say afterwards
After sealing or expungement you are treated as if you had never been arrested, convicted or sentenced. On job, license and other applications you may be asked only about records that have not been sealed or expunged, and state agencies must tell you of your right not to disclose them. The public is told "NO CRIMINAL RECORD EXISTS." Exceptions for sealed records: police, prosecutors and the Attorney General can still use them for criminal justice purposes, they are available for firearm background checks and law-enforcement hiring, and a sealed DUI counts for a later DUI penalty. Anyone who knowingly accesses or discloses a sealed record without authorization faces a civil penalty of up to $1,000.
Law: 13 V.S.A. §§ 7606(b), 7607(b)-(c), 7611
Clean Slate relief in Vermont
- Law
- Automatic sealing of non-conviction records
- What is cleared
- When no probable cause is found at arraignment, the charge is dismissed before trial (with or without prejudice), or you are acquitted, the court seals the record within 60 days after the case ends unless either side objects in the interests of justice. Convictions are not sealed automatically. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed automatically 2 years after final discharge unless the State's Attorney objects, and dismissed cases against minors are sealed right away.
- Started
- Current version in effect since July 1, 2025. Before that date, acquittals and dismissals with prejudice were expunged within 60 days instead of sealed.
Law: 13 V.S.A. § 7603(a); 33 V.S.A. § 5119(a), (h); 2025 Act 60
Marijuana records in Vermont
Convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime, such as possession of small amounts of cannabis, can be expunged with no waiting period. Vermont Legal Aid reports that old misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions were automatically expunged, with orders mailed to the last known address; if you did not get one, contact the criminal court in the county of conviction (vtlawhelp.org). Felony cannabis possession or cultivation can be sealed after 7 years.
Law: 13 V.S.A. § 7602(a)(1), (b); 13 V.S.A. § 7601(4)(B)(iii)
Records from when you were under 18
If you were adjudicated delinquent on or after July 1, 1996, the court seals the records automatically 2 years after your final discharge unless the State's Attorney shows a later listed-crime conviction or lack of rehabilitation. A dismissed case against someone under 18 (charged on or after July 1, 2006) is sealed right away. Adult convictions for crimes committed before 25 can be sealed 2 years after discharge.
Law: 33 V.S.A. § 5119(a), (g), (h)
Pardons in Vermont
- Who decides
- Governor of Vermont
- How
- Download and complete the Pardon Application and mail it to the Pardon Coordinator, Office of the Governor, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609-0101 (paper copy by mail: 802-828-3333). Pardons are rare. An offense for which you received an unconditional pardon becomes eligible for sealing.
Law: 13 V.S.A. § 7601(4)(B)(iv)
In nearby states
- Massachusetts: Sealing (CORI sealing); expungement
- New York: Sealing (and expungement for certain marijuana convictions)
- Connecticut: Erasure (Clean Slate erasure, absolute pardon)
- Rhode Island: Expungement; sealing (for acquittals and dismissals)
Steps to clear a record in Vermont
Start with your record
Your record lists each case; you need it to see which remedy fits. Vermont Judiciary: Expunging and Sealing Criminal Records and Vermont Judiciary Access and Resource Center (802-879-1185, selfhelp@vtcourts.gov).
See if enough time has passed
The law sets a wait for each kind of case. Waiting periods.
Start the case
Most remedies start with a petition to the court. How to file.
Ask for free help
Ask for free help: Vermont Legal Aid / Legal Services Vermont (VTLawHelp.org) and Vermont Legal Aid Bennington Legal Advice Clinic (includes expungement).
Free legal help in Vermont
- Vermont Legal Aid / Legal Services Vermont (VTLawHelp.org)
- Vermont Legal Aid Bennington Legal Advice Clinic (includes expungement) · 802-318-4169
- Brattleboro BIPOC Legal Aid Clinic (Vermont Legal Aid and Root Social Justice Center) · 802-885-5181
- Local Community Justice Centers (named by the Vermont Judiciary as able to help)
Questions about clearing a record in Vermont
What is clearing a record called in Vermont?
Sealing; expungement (only for conduct that is no longer a crime). Sealing hides the record from the public: the court file becomes confidential and the public is told "no criminal record exists," but police, prosecutors and a few others can still use it. Expungement removes the record and destroys the court file, and since July 1, 2025 it is only for convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime.
Which records can be cleared in Vermont?
Sealing of a conviction (qualifying misdemeanor): Most misdemeanor convictions. Sealing of a conviction (qualifying felony): Only these felonies: burglary not into an occupied dwelling (or into an occupied dwelling if you were 25 or younger and had no weapon); listed property felonies (forgery, false pretenses, identity theft, grand larceny, embezzlement, receiving stolen property, retail theft, unlawful mischief, unlawful trespass, computer crimes and others); drug possession, cultivation, sale or transport felonies; and any offense for which the Governor granted an unconditional pardon. Sealing of a qualifying DUI misdemeanor: A qualifying misdemeanor DUI conviction. Sealing for offenses committed at ages 18-21: Qualifying crimes (misdemeanor or felony, as defined above) committed when you were 18 to 21 years old. Sealing for crimes committed before age 25: Any Vermont conviction for a crime you committed before you turned 25. Sealing when there was no conviction: Arrests and citations with no probable cause found at arraignment, charges dismissed before trial (with or without prejudice), and acquittals. Expungement (conduct no longer a crime): Convictions for conduct that is no longer prohibited by law.
Is there a Clean Slate law in Vermont?
When no probable cause is found at arraignment, the charge is dismissed before trial (with or without prejudice), or you are acquitted, the court seals the record within 60 days after the case ends unless either side objects in the interests of justice. Convictions are not sealed automatically. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed automatically 2 years after final discharge unless the State's Attorney objects, and dismissed cases against minors are sealed right away.
Does Vermont clear cannabis records?
Convictions for conduct that is no longer a crime, such as possession of small amounts of cannabis, can be expunged with no waiting period. Vermont Legal Aid reports that old misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions were automatically expunged, with orders mailed to the last known address; if you did not get one, contact the criminal court in the county of conviction (vtlawhelp.org). Felony cannabis possession or cultivation can be sealed after 7 years.
What happens to juvenile records in Vermont?
If you were adjudicated delinquent on or after July 1, 1996, the court seals the records automatically 2 years after your final discharge unless the State's Attorney shows a later listed-crime conviction or lack of rehabilitation. A dismissed case against someone under 18 (charged on or after July 1, 2006) is sealed right away. Adult convictions for crimes committed before 25 can be sealed 2 years after discharge.
What changes after a record is cleared in Vermont?
After sealing or expungement you are treated as if you had never been arrested, convicted or sentenced. On job, license and other applications you may be asked only about records that have not been sealed or expunged, and state agencies must tell you of your right not to disclose them. The public is told "NO CRIMINAL RECORD EXISTS." Exceptions for sealed records: police, prosecutors and the Attorney General can still use them for criminal justice purposes, they are available for firearm background checks and law-enforcement hiring, and a sealed DUI counts for a later DUI penalty. Anyone who knowingly accesses or discloses a sealed record without authorization faces a civil penalty of up to $1,000.