A single old charge can quietly hold you back for years. It can cost you a job, an apartment, a loan, or a place in school, long after the case itself is over. Expungement is how you close that chapter, and Minnesota has recently made it more possible than ever. If a past record is standing in your way, we can help you understand your options and pursue the relief you qualify for.

What Expungement Actually Does

In Minnesota, expungement means your record is sealed from public view, not destroyed. Employers, landlords, and the general public can no longer see a sealed record, though certain agencies such as law enforcement and licensing boards retain limited access. Sealing a record can be the difference between a door that stays closed and one that finally opens.

Minnesota’s Clean Slate Act

On January 1, 2025, Minnesota’s Clean Slate Act (Minn. Stat. § 609A.015) took effect, and it changed the landscape. For the first time, many eligible records are expunged automatically, without the person having to file anything. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identifies qualifying records and refers them to the courts, which seal them after a review period. Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are eligible, and well over a million records have already been sealed.

But automatic does not mean universal. Not every record qualifies, waiting periods apply, and more serious offenses are excluded. If your record was not reached by the automatic process, you may still be eligible through a petition.

The Two Paths to Expungement

  • Automatic expungement (Clean Slate). For eligible records, the State now seals them without a petition, generally after a crime-free waiting period. Because the process runs behind the scenes, many people do not know whether their record has been, or will be, cleared. We can help you find out where you stand.
  • Petition-based expungement (Minn. Stat. §§ 609A.02 and 609A.03). For records the automatic process does not reach, you can petition the district court. This means filing the petition, notifying the affected agencies, appearing at a hearing, and obtaining a judge’s order. It is more involved, and it is where experienced representation makes the biggest difference.

Who May Qualify

Eligibility depends on the offense and how the case ended. Records where charges were dismissed or resolved in your favor are often reachable, as are many petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and certain nonviolent felonies after the applicable waiting period, provided there are no new offenses. Some offenses, such as those requiring predatory-offender registration, are not eligible. Because the rules are specific, the best way to know your options is to have your record reviewed.

Talk With a Minnesota Expungement Lawyer

Clearing your record can change what is possible for your career, your housing, and your future. Contact the Law Office of Lauren Campoli at 612-500-7777 to have your record reviewed and discuss your options.

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