If you have a felony or misdemeanor conviction in Ohio, you may be able to ask a court to seal or expunge it. A sealed or expunged record is hidden from most employers and background checks, which can make it much easier to find work and housing. Here is how it works.

Sealing vs. expunging

Sealing hides the record from the public and most background checks. Expungement goes further: the record is erased. For felonies, you can apply to seal first, and expungement is available much later.

Who can not apply

Ohio law (R.C. 2953.32) rules out some convictions, including:

• Felonies of the first or second degree
• Felony offenses of violence (with limited exceptions)
• Certain sex offenses and offenses against children under 13
• Certain traffic-related convictions, and some domestic violence convictions
• A third-degree felony if you have too many other felony convictions

How long you wait

The clock starts at “final discharge,” meaning you finished your sentence, probation and parole.

• Minor misdemeanor: 6 months
• Misdemeanors and fourth- or fifth-degree felonies: 1 year (as long as none is a felony offense of violence)
• One or two third-degree felonies: 3 years
• Expungement of a felony: 10 years after the date you could have applied to seal it

What happens after you file

1. You file an application with the court that sentenced you.
2. The court sets a hearing 45 to 90 days after filing. The prosecutor is notified and may object.
3. At the hearing, the judge decides whether you have been rehabilitated and weighs your interests against the government’s need for the record.
4. If granted, the records are sealed or expunged.

Tips

• Gather proof that you completed your sentence, a stable work history, references, and certificates from classes or programs.
• Ask the clerk of courts about fees and fee waivers.
• A legal aid office can often help for free.

Felons With A Future helps people in the Dayton area rebuild after release. Reach out through our Contact page if you need help with next steps.

This post is general information, not legal advice. Check with an attorney or legal aid office about your own case.

Sources: Ohio Revised Code 2953.32 (effective Sept. 30, 2025); Ohio Public Defender, Record Sealing and Expungement handout (updated March 2025).