Clear a Criminal Record in Rhode Island or Massachusetts

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

5 calendar years

Completion of the entire sentence for the misdemeanor.

The history answer cannot establish the full first-offender definition. Ask a lawyer to check the full record; no date is calculated.

• The ordinary first-offender definition includes no earlier conviction or probation for a felony or misdemeanor and no pending criminal proceeding. A no answer about convictions since this case does not establish that definition.
• A crime-of-violence conviction is barred under § 12-1.3-2(a); exact definitions and full history must be reviewed.
• Applicable court monetary obligations must be paid unless reduced or waived; the required court findings, good character, rehabilitation and public interest remain.
• Exact offense and statutory crime-of-violence definition.
• All prior probation, arrests and convictions, pending proceedings and the applicable look-back.
• Court monetary obligations and applicable court findings; ten-day hearing notice to the Attorney General and original police department.
• This is the relevant sentence-completion date, not the conviction date.
• First-offender route and current exclusions require full-record review.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

10 calendar years

Completion of the entire sentence for the felony.

The history answer cannot establish the full first-offender definition. Ask a lawyer to check the full record; no date is calculated.

• The ordinary first-offender definition includes no earlier conviction or probation for a felony or misdemeanor and no pending criminal proceeding. A no answer about convictions since this case does not establish that definition.
• A crime-of-violence conviction is barred under § 12-1.3-2(a); exact definitions and full history must be reviewed.
• Applicable court monetary obligations must be paid unless reduced or waived; the required court findings, good character, rehabilitation and public interest remain.
• Exact offense and statutory crime-of-violence definition.
• All prior probation, arrests and convictions, pending proceedings and the applicable look-back.
• Court monetary obligations and applicable court findings; ten-day hearing notice to the Attorney General and original police department.
• This is the relevant sentence-completion date, not the conviction date.
• First-offender route and current exclusions require full-record review.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

10 calendar years

Completion of the last sentence for the multiple-misdemeanor route.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Sections 12-1.3-2(b) and (g) govern this separate route.
• The amended felony-history wording concerns a felony that is a crime of violence or another prohibited offense; it is not a blanket exclusion of every felony.
• Convictions under chapter 29 of title 12 and §§ 31-27-2 and 31-27-2.1 are excluded from this route.
• The ten-year arrest/conviction look-back, no pending proceeding, good character and rehabilitation/public-interest findings require review.
• The exact amended felony-history qualification, total misdemeanor count and statutory excluded convictions.
• Every arrest/conviction in the look-back and the full record, including other jurisdictions.
• All convictions need review; later-conviction history alone does not establish this route.
• Identify completion of the last relevant sentence.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

15 calendar years

Completion of the last sentence for the limited multiple-felony route.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Sections 12-1.3-2(c) and (h) provide this route.
• The specified domestic-violence, DUI/refusal, crime-of-violence and other-prohibited offenses are excluded.
• The statute restricts later expungement of remaining otherwise nonprohibited felony offenses after successful relief.
• Fifteen-year arrest/conviction look-back, no pending proceeding, good character and rehabilitation/public-interest findings remain.
• The full record and all felonies to be addressed together.
• Statutory prohibited-offense definitions and later remaining-felony restriction.
• Confirm the two-through-four felony count and current exclusions.
• Identify completion of the last sentence; do not use one selected conviction date.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

No single calculated date

The actual statutory conviction, misdemeanor/felony level and record route must be identified.

This special-offense caution requires exact-section and record review; no single date is calculated.

• The multiple-misdemeanor and multiple-felony routes exclude §§ 31-27-2 and 31-27-2.1.
• Any ordinary first-offender analysis must use the actual offense, first-offender definition, sentence-completion date and current exclusions; a felony is not assigned the misdemeanor period.
• Exact DUI/refusal subsection, level, complete history and whether any distinct route applies.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

No single calculated date

Do not select a conviction route or date from the domestic label alone.

This special-offense caution requires exact-section and record review; no single date is calculated.

• The multiple-misdemeanor and multiple-felony routes exclude convictions under chapter 29 of title 12.
• Do not apply the special domestic filing clock to a conviction.
• Exact conviction, first-offender analysis if relevant, and the multiple-route exclusions.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12; R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12 · R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1

No single calculated date

Final docket outcome, all-count exoneration and applicable procedure must be confirmed.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Section 12-1-12.1(b) allows a motion when acquitted or otherwise exonerated of all counts.
• A motion requires at least ten days of hearing notice to the Attorney General and original police department; the clerk sealing period after an order is a processing rule, not an extra conviction waiting period.
• The identification-record destruction rule in § 12-1-12 is separate from court-record sealing.
• A nolle selection alone does not establish the all-count outcome or Rule 48(a) route.
• All counts, exact disposition and any remaining case.
• The statutory domestic filing exception, if applicable; current sealing status with the clerk.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1

No single calculated date

The docket must establish District Court Rule 48(a), dismissal date and the statutory historical branch.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Dismissals under the specified rule on or after January 1, 2023 use automatic sealing not less than ten and not more than twenty days after dismissal.
• Earlier specified dismissals use clerk administrative sealing on the defendant request; associated order transmission and implementation provisions differ.
• Do not label every dismissal or nolle an automatic Rule 48(a) dismissal.
• Rule, date, all related counts and actual clerk/BCI implementation.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-10-12; R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-10-12 · R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12

No single calculated date

End of the filing period stated in the actual court order; the statute does not create one universal one-year period.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Under § 12-10-12(c), if no action is taken during the filing period, the complaint is automatically expunged.
• Filing conditions, any violation action and whether domestic violence is involved must be checked.
• Do not substitute the conviction five- or ten-year period.
• The actual filing order, expiration, any action during the period, monetary conditions and docket status.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-10-12; R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12; R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-10-12 · R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12 · R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12.1

3 calendar years

Date the domestic-violence complaint was placed on file.

A conditional three-year anniversary is shown only after the original domestic-violence complaint filing date is confirmed. A February 29 starting date requires exact-date review; no date is calculated from it.

• Section 12-10-12(d) distinguishes quashing after a filing without a charged violation from later record expungement.
• The three-year condition addresses another domestic-violence charge; a later acquittal or dismissal is expressly addressed.
• Sections 12-1-12(c) and 12-1-12.1(c) also prohibit earlier records relief for the specified filed domestic cases.
• Filing date/order, new domestic charges and their disposition, violation history and clerk implementation.
• Confirm this is a filing, not conviction, deferral or dismissal.
• Use the original date of filing, not its completion date.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-19-19; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-19-19 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 171 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 12-1.3-1–3, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 172

No single calculated date

Completion of the actual written deferral agreement followed by the required court finding and motion/hearing; do not calculate five years from the plea.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Current § 12-1.3-2(f) supplies the deferred motion route, subject to § 12-19-19(c).
• Completion alone does not automatically erase the record.
• Required findings include compliance with all deferral terms and monetary obligations, no pending proceedings and good character; the crime-of-violence prohibition and rehabilitation/public-interest criteria must be reviewed.
• The five-year sentence-imposition limit in § 12-19-19(a), including its violation exception, is not a five-year expungement waiting period.
• Written agreement, completion order, payments/restitution and any declared violation.
• Current § 12-1.3-3 criteria and ten-day hearing notice.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A

3 calendar years

Covered court appearance/disposition including any incarceration or custody; identify the latest relevant date from the record.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Section 100A uses the covered court appearances/dispositions including incarceration or custody and imposes additional history and offense conditions.
• The history question about convictions since this case does not collect every statutory condition.
• Specified c.140 firearms and c.268/c.268A convictions are excluded, except resisting arrest as stated; sex offenses have separate fifteen-year/registration conditions and level-two/three restriction.
• The full Massachusetts and other-jurisdiction history, subsequent findings of guilt and imprisonment.
• Exact offense and reclassification; statutory firearms/public-justice exclusions, sex-offense rules and order-violation treatment.
• Actual appearances/dispositions and any custody period; do not treat every sentence-completion label as the statutory trigger.
• Use the actual statutory appearance/disposition/custody trigger.
• Later guilt findings, imprisonment and exclusions may change or defeat this route.

Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation: use the current petition-to-seal instructions and form.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A

7 calendar years

Covered court appearance/disposition including any incarceration or custody; identify the latest relevant date from the record.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Section 100A uses the covered court appearances/dispositions including incarceration or custody and imposes additional history and offense conditions.
• The history question about convictions since this case does not collect every statutory condition.
• Specified c.140 firearms and c.268/c.268A convictions are excluded, except resisting arrest as stated; sex offenses have separate fifteen-year/registration conditions and level-two/three restriction.
• The full Massachusetts and other-jurisdiction history, subsequent findings of guilt and imprisonment.
• Exact offense and reclassification; statutory firearms/public-justice exclusions, sex-offense rules and order-violation treatment.
• Actual appearances/dispositions and any custody period; do not treat every sentence-completion label as the statutory trigger.
• Use the actual statutory appearance/disposition/custody trigger.
• Later guilt findings, imprisonment and exclusions may change or defeat this route.

Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation: use the current petition-to-seal instructions and form.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C

No single calculated date

The statute states the acquittal/no-bill/no-probable-cause sealing route without a three- or seven-year conviction period.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• The provision directs sealing for the specified not-guilty, no-bill or no-probable-cause outcomes unless the defendant requests otherwise in writing.
• Confirm the actual disposition and implementation for every relevant record.
• Docket result, all counts and whether a written request not to seal was made.

Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation: use the current petition-to-seal instructions and form.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C

No single calculated date

No fixed three- or seven-year conviction waiting period is stated for this judicial dismissal/nolle route.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• The court must find that substantial justice would best be served.
• Dismissal or nolle does not itself establish that this judicial sealing order has been entered.
• Final docket and substantial-justice showing; the court and Probation records affected.

The court where the criminal proceeding occurred: current petition to seal under § 100C.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 278, § 18; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A

M.G.L. c. 278, § 18 · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A

No single calculated date

An active CWOF is not treated as an already dismissed case. Use the final docket and applicable route.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Section 18 permits a continuance without finding until a specified date for dismissal conditioned on compliance.
• For a dismissed CWOF, ask about the § 100C substantial-justice sealing route; dismissal and sealing are separate steps.
• If the docket instead contains a conviction, review the applicable conviction route.
• Final dismissal entry, conditions, any finding of guilt and the proper sealing petition.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 87; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C

M.G.L. c. 276, § 87 · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C

No single calculated date

Section 87 is not a universal automatic-dismissal or record-destruction clock.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• Section 87 permits the stated consensual probation order before trial and before a plea of guilty.
• A later actual dismissal or nolle can be reviewed under § 100C; completion alone is not treated as an entered dismissal or sealing order.
• The probation order, completion, final docket, offense-specific restrictions and substantial-justice request if dismissed.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100G; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100H; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100I; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J; St. 2026, c. 102, §§ 338–340

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100G · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100H · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100I · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J · St. 2026, c. 102, §§ 338–340

3 calendar years

All offenses being considered and any incarceration, custody or probation must be at least the stated period before the petition.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• This is separate from sealing and is not inferred from the outcome selection.
• Section 100I includes other criminal/juvenile appearances and dispositions here and elsewhere, subject to its narrow motor-vehicle exception, and the active-investigation certification.
• Section 100J excludes the listed serious/injury/armed/sexual, OUI, firearms, protective-order, domestic-assault and c.265 felony categories. A nonconviction does not remove these exclusions.
• St.2026 c.102 §§338–340 updates disability terminology; it does not alter these periods.
• Age when each offense occurred, every record/incident, all jurisdictions and § 100J exclusions.
• Correct conviction versus no-adjudication/no-conviction petition route; active CWOF/probation requires docket-specific review.
• Every covered offense occurred before the twenty-first birthday.
• No more than two records under the correct § 100G or § 100H category, with statutory same-incident counting; full record review required.
• All other statutory history, investigation and offense conditions must be checked.

Commissioner of Probation time-based expungement petition; current official instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100G; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100H; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100I; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J; St. 2026, c. 102, §§ 338–340

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100G · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100H · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100I · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J · St. 2026, c. 102, §§ 338–340

7 calendar years

All offenses being considered and any incarceration, custody or probation must be at least the stated period before the petition.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• This is separate from sealing and is not inferred from the outcome selection.
• Section 100I includes other criminal/juvenile appearances and dispositions here and elsewhere, subject to its narrow motor-vehicle exception, and the active-investigation certification.
• Section 100J excludes the listed serious/injury/armed/sexual, OUI, firearms, protective-order, domestic-assault and c.265 felony categories. A nonconviction does not remove these exclusions.
• St.2026 c.102 §§338–340 updates disability terminology; it does not alter these periods.
• Age when each offense occurred, every record/incident, all jurisdictions and § 100J exclusions.
• Correct conviction versus no-adjudication/no-conviction petition route; active CWOF/probation requires docket-specific review.
• Every covered offense occurred before the twenty-first birthday.
• No more than two records under the correct § 100G or § 100H category, with statutory same-incident counting; full record review required.
• All other statutory history, investigation and offense conditions must be checked.

Commissioner of Probation time-based expungement petition; current official instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100K

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100K

No single calculated date

Section 100K does not impose the § 100I three/seven-year time test; it requires proof of a listed ground and court discretion.

The available answers do not establish this route’s exact trigger and all required record facts. Ask a lawyer to review the clock; no date is calculated.

• The court must find the specified ground by clear and convincing evidence and exercise interests-of-justice discretion.
• False identification/identity theft, a genuinely decriminalized offense, specified demonstrable errors or fraud are distinct grounds; a changed offense name alone is insufficient.
• The section operates notwithstanding §§ 100I and 100J, but the specific statutory ground needs proof from the actual record.
• Evidence supporting an exact statutory ground, proper court and written findings.

Court petition for non-time-based expungement; current official instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100K

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100K

No single calculated date

Identify actual misdemeanor/felony classification and the sealing or special expungement route.

This special-offense caution requires exact-section and record review; no single date is calculated.

• Section 100J excludes offenses under c.90 §24 from time-based expungement, including covered no-conviction records.
• That exclusion does not by itself decide a distinct sealing application or a proved § 100K ground.
• A dismissed CWOF and a conviction use different sealing analysis.
• Exact c.90 subsection, final docket, level, complete history and the selected route.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100I; M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J

M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100I · M.G.L. c. 276, § 100J

No single calculated date

The domestic label alone does not identify the offense level or applicable route.

This special-offense caution requires exact-section and record review; no single date is calculated.

• For the stated waiting-period provisions, violations of c.209A §7 and c.258E §9 are treated as felonies. Do not apply that rule to every domestic-labeled case.
• Section 100J separately excludes listed order violations, c.265 §13M and c.265 felonies from time-based expungement.
• Exact offense, actual outcome, special felony treatment and expungement exclusions.

Clerk of the court handling the criminal case; obtain the current docket and applicable official motion or application instructions.

Official text checked 2026-11-05