Quick Overview
- Felony expungement availability varies dramatically by state.
- For felony convictions that are not eligible for expungement, several strategies can reduce online visibility: For more information, visit the EEOC.
- Expungement is legal relief - it restricts or destroys the official record.
100% Results-Based PricingYou pay only once the court record link is gone from Google search results. No retainer, no upfront fee.
Which Felonies Can Be Expunged?
Felony expungement availability varies dramatically by state. Here is the landscape: For more information, visit the OJP.
- Most permissive states: Michigan (most felonies, 5-year wait), Illinois (F3/F4 with 3-year wait), New Jersey (many felonies after 5 years), Ohio (F4/F5 after 3 years), California (dismissal under PC 1203.4)
- Moderate: Pennsylvania (limited access orders for some felonies), Indiana, Missouri, Nevada (sealing)
- Most restrictive: Texas (generally no felony expungement except non-convictions), Florida (very limited felony expungement), Arizona (set aside only, not true expungement)
- Typically excluded in all states: Murder, sexual assault, child abuse, terrorism, human trafficking
Options Without Expungement
For felony convictions that are not eligible for expungement, several strategies can reduce online visibility: For more information, visit the EEOC.
- Data broker removal: Remove felony conviction information from 50+ people-search sites through opt-out requests
- Suppression through content: Build a strong positive online presence - LinkedIn profile, professional website, authored content - to push felony results down in search rankings
- Mugshot site removal: Address mugshot sites directly with removal requests (most have processes; some charge fees)
- Aggregator outreach: Some legal aggregator sites will consider individual removal requests for older cases
- Governor's pardon: A pardon does not expunge the record but can sometimes be leveraged in removal requests and shows rehabilitation
The Difference Between Expungement and Suppression
Expungement is legal relief - it restricts or destroys the official record. Suppression is a reputation management strategy - it does not change the official record but reduces online visibility by removing data from third-party sources and improving what appears on page 1 of Google. Both can be valuable, and for many felony convictions in states with limited expungement, online removal and suppression are the primary route. For more information, visit the BJA expungement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes - in many states. Felony expungement has expanded significantly over the past decade. Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, California, and many other states allow expungement of at least some felony convictions after waiting periods. However, serious violent felonies, sexual offenses, and crimes against children are typically excluded everywhere. Your eligibility depends on the specific offense, your state, and how long ago you completed your sentence. An expungement attorney can evaluate your specific situation.
Without legal relief, a felony conviction stays in the official public record. There is no automatic expiration for criminal court records in the US. Background check services typically report felony convictions without a time limit (unlike the 7-year rule for misdemeanors, which doesn't apply to felonies in most employment contexts). A felony conviction can follow someone for decades online without active removal efforts.
For most employment purposes, felony convictions can be reported in background checks without a time limit (unlike some misdemeanors, which fall under the FCRA's 7-year limit). Many states have 'ban the box' laws limiting when employers can ask about felonies, but the felony remains in records. Some states' expungement laws, once expungement is granted, prohibit disclosure in most employment contexts - making expungement the most effective way to limit felony background check impact.
Removal from official court records generally requires legal relief (expungement or sealing). However, you can reduce its online visibility through: (1) data broker opt-outs that remove the conviction from 50+ people-search sites, (2) suppression strategies that build positive content to push the felony result down in Google rankings, (3) individual removal requests to aggregator sites for older cases, and (4) mugshot site removal requests. These do not erase the court record but can significantly reduce how prominently it appears.
In practical terms, a felony affects different areas of life for different durations. Direct legal effects: some civil rights (voting, firearms) are affected and may require additional steps to restore. Employment: background checks reveal felonies indefinitely, though many employers - particularly after ban-the-box reforms - do evaluate context and rehabilitation. Online: without active removal efforts, felony records appear in Google searches indefinitely. Expungement, where available, is the most effective way to limit long-term impact.
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