New Law Changes Expungement Rules for Some Offenders

July 1, 2010 - 12:27pm

A bill just passed without the Governor's signature which amends expungement law for some individuals, effective immediately.

If you pleaded guilty or nolocontendre and received a deferred sentence (a no-jail sentence), you are now eligible for full expungement and record sealing following 5 years of good behavior.

If a person, after a 5 year deferment period, is determined by the court to have complied with all the terms and conditions of the written deferral agreement, then the person shall be exonerated of the charges for which sentence was deferred and records relating to the criminal complaint, information or indictment shall be sealed. Further, if any record of the criminal complaint, information, or indictment has been entered into a docket or alphabetical index, whether in writing or electronic information storage or other data compilation system, all references to the identity of the person charged by the complaint shall be sealed.

For more information, please see the Providence Journal article here. Or call our Policy Researcher Nick Horton at 401.781.5808 x108.

For more information about expungement rules, please see: