Expungement for offenders under 25 (Wis. Stat. § 973.015) in Wisconsin: which records can be cleared
What Wisconsin law lets you clear, record by record.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
In Wisconsin it is called expungement (court record of conviction): expungement seals the circuit court's case file and removes it from the public court website.
- Main remedy
- Expungement for offenders under 25 (Wis. Stat. § 973.015)
- What it covers
- Misdemeanors, and Class H and Class I felonies (crimes with a maximum prison term of 6 years or less), committed when you were under 25, for sentences imposed on or after July 1, 2009.
- Ways to clear a record
- 3
Ways to clear a record in Wisconsin
Expungement (court record of conviction) — In Wisconsin, expungement seals the circuit court's case file and removes it from the public court website (WCCA). It does not set aside the conviction, and the conviction stays in the state Department of Justice criminal history repository and other agency records, which anyone can request.
Wisconsin has 3 ways to clear a record. Each covers different records and has its own waiting period.
Expungement for offenders under 25 (Wis. Stat. § 973.015)
Misdemeanors, and Class H and Class I felonies (crimes with a maximum prison term of 6 years or less), committed when you were under 25, for sentences imposed on or after July 1, 2009. For sentences imposed before July 1, 2009: misdemeanors committed when you were under 21. Separately, the court must order expungement of certain invasion-of-privacy ("peeping Tom") convictions under § 942.08 committed when you were under 18.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Eligible offense, judge ordered expungement at sentencing | No waiting period No waiting period: once you successfully complete the sentence, the record is expunged. | Successful completion of the sentence |
- Not eligible
- The judge must decide at sentencing; you cannot ask for expungement later (State v. Matasek, 2014; State v. Arberry, 2018). A Class H or Class I felony is not eligible if you have a prior felony conviction or if it is a "violent offense" under § 301.048(2)(bm). Also excluded: Class H felonies of stalking, physical abuse of a child and sexual assault of a student by a school staff person; and the Class I felony of hiding the death of a child. Felonies above Class H, civil forfeitures (such as most traffic and ordinance tickets), dismissed charges and acquittals cannot be expunged by the court.
Law: Wis. Stat. § 973.015(1m); § 940.32; § 948.03(2), (3) or (5)(a)1-4; § 948.095; § 948.23(1)(a)
Source: Official text
Expungement for victims of human trafficking (Wis. Stat. § 973.015(2m))
Prostitution convictions for a commercial sex act you committed as a victim of human trafficking
Law: Wis. Stat. § 973.015(2m); § 944.30
Source: Official text
Removal of arrest information from the state repository (Wis. Stat. § 165.84)
Arrests where you were released without charge, no charges were filed, the charges were dismissed, or you were found not guilty, on all charges from that arrest
- Not eligible
- A conviction (even an expunged one) cannot be removed from the repository.
Law: Wis. Stat. § 165.84(1)
Source: Official text
After your record is cleared
After expungement, the court seals the case file and a search of the public court website (WCCA) will not show the case. The conviction is not vacated: it stays in the DOJ criminal history repository, which anyone can search for a fee, and in records of police, prosecutors, the DOT and other agencies.
Source: Wisconsin court system brochure; form CR-266
Records from when you were under 18
Once you are 17 and have satisfactorily complied with the dispositional order, you may petition the juvenile court to expunge your juvenile adjudication; the court must find that you will benefit and society will not be harmed.
Law: Wis. Stat. § 938.355(4m)
Source: form JD-1780
Pardons in Wisconsin
- Who decides
- Governor of Wisconsin, on the recommendation of the Governor's Pardon Advisory Board
- How
- Only Wisconsin felony convictions are eligible (misdemeanors only if sentenced together with the felony). At least 5 years must have passed since you finished all confinement and supervision, you may have no pending charges, and you may not be required to register as a sex offender. Apply on the Governor's application; there is no fee. Most applicants get a hearing, usually at least 18 months after applying. A pardon does not expunge the record. Under Gov. Evers, whose term ends in January 2027, the last day to apply was October 5, 2026; applications not decided are held for the next administration.
Law: Wis. Const. art. V, § 6
In nearby states
Steps to clear a record in Wisconsin
Get your own record
Get a copy of your record so you know each case and how it ended. Wisconsin Court System: circuit court forms (CR-266, CR-267, JD-1780) and Expunging Court Records: Helpful Information and FAQ (Wisconsin Director of State Courts brochure, hosted by Waukesha County).
See if enough time has passed
The law sets a wait for each kind of case. Waiting periods.
Ask the court
The court decides each request. How to file.
Talk to legal aid
Ask for free help: WisLawHelp (Wisconsin legal aid information) and Legal Action of Wisconsin.
Free help in Wisconsin
Questions about clearing a record in Wisconsin
What is clearing a record called in Wisconsin?
Expungement (court record of conviction). In Wisconsin, expungement seals the circuit court's case file and removes it from the public court website (WCCA). It does not set aside the conviction, and the conviction stays in the state Department of Justice criminal history repository and other agency records, which anyone can request.
Can I clear a conviction in Wisconsin?
Expungement for offenders under 25: Misdemeanors, and Class H and Class I felonies (crimes with a maximum prison term of 6 years or less), committed when you were under 25, for sentences imposed on or after July 1, 2009. For sentences imposed before July 1, 2009: misdemeanors committed when you were under 21. Separately, the court must order expungement of certain invasion-of-privacy ("peeping Tom") convictions under § 942.08 committed when you were under 18. Expungement for victims of human trafficking: Prostitution convictions for a commercial sex act you committed as a victim of human trafficking. Removal of arrest information from the state repository: Arrests where you were released without charge, no charges were filed, the charges were dismissed, or you were found not guilty, on all charges from that arrest.
What happens to juvenile records in Wisconsin?
Once you are 17 and have satisfactorily complied with the dispositional order, you may petition the juvenile court to expunge your juvenile adjudication; the court must find that you will benefit and society will not be harmed.
What changes after a record is cleared in Wisconsin?
After expungement, the court seals the case file and a search of the public court website (WCCA) will not show the case. The conviction is not vacated: it stays in the DOJ criminal history repository, which anyone can search for a fee, and in records of police, prosecutors, the DOT and other agencies.