How to Clear Your Criminal Record in Maryland

What You Need to Know First

2025 Expungement Reform Act — major expansion: Maryland's Expungement Reform Act of 2025 (effective October 1, 2025) made sweeping changes. A past probation violation no longer automatically bars expungement as long as your sentence was ultimately completed. Waiting periods were reduced for many offenses. Additional misdemeanor convictions were added to the eligible list. If you were previously denied or told you didn't qualify, check again under the new law.

The unit rule: Maryland expunges cases — not individual charges. If a case contains one charge that is ineligible for expungement, the entire case is blocked — even charges in that same case that would otherwise qualify. This is one of Maryland's most frustrating limitations and it affects many people with mixed-outcome cases.

Maryland has three main expungement pathways. The right one depends on how your case was resolved.

Non-Conviction Records

FREE — AUTOMATIC AFTER OCT. 2021

Acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi, and not guilty verdicts from cases after October 1, 2021 are automatically expunged after 3 years. Pre-2021 cases require a petition. Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) is eligible with no waiting period in most cases. No filing fee.

Conviction Expungement

$30 FEE — WAITING PERIOD

A specific list of misdemeanor and some felony convictions are eligible after waiting periods of 5–15 years from sentence completion. The 2025 Reform Act expanded this list. Crimes of violence, DUI/DWI, and convictions with sentences over 3 years are permanently excluded.

Cannabis Expungement

AUTOMATIC — NO PETITION NEEDED

Cannabis possession records qualify for automatic expungement. Gov. Moore pardoned 175,000+ cannabis convictions in 2024 — those pardoned records will be removed from public Maryland Judiciary Case Search by January 31, 2026.

Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) — Maryland's Unique Tool

PBJ is one of Maryland's most valuable record relief tools. Probation Before Judgment means the judge finds you guilty but does not enter a formal conviction — instead placing you on probation. Upon successful completion, the case is treated as a non-conviction and is eligible for expungement. If you received a PBJ, you may be eligible to expunge it — even though there was a guilty finding.

Waiting periods for PBJ expungement: generally 3 years. However if you were convicted of a new crime within 3 years of the PBJ, the PBJ case cannot be expunged (with exceptions for minor traffic violations and conduct that is no longer a crime).

What Can — and Can't — Be Expunged

ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT

Acquittal / not guilty verdict — petition, no fee
Dismissed charges — petition, no fee
Nolle prosequi (prosecutor dropped case) — petition, no fee
Stet (case indefinitely postponed) — petition after 3 years
Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) — petition after 3 years
Cannabis possession — automatic expungement
Most eligible misdemeanor convictions — after 5 years
Second degree assault / common law battery conviction — after 7 years
First or second degree burglary / felony theft conviction — after 10 years
Domestically related convictions — after 15 years
Pardoned convictions — within 10 years of pardon

NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPUNGEMENT

Crimes of violence (Crim. Proc. § 14-101) — first and second degree assault, robbery, rape and others
DUI / DWI convictions (Transportation Art. § 21-902)
Convictions where imprisonment over 3 years was imposed
Sex offenses requiring registration
Cases blocked by the unit rule — if one charge in the case is ineligible, the whole case is blocked
Pending criminal proceedings
New conviction during the waiting period
Outstanding restitution owed

The unit rule in practice: If you were charged with both a theft and an assault in the same case — and the assault conviction is ineligible — you cannot expunge the theft charge from that case even if it resulted in acquittal. The only current exception to the unit rule is for cannabis charges.

Waiting Periods

Waiting periods run from the completion of sentence — including probation and parole. You must have no new criminal conviction during the waiting period and no pending criminal proceedings.

Acquittal / dismissed / nolle prosequi (post-Oct 2021)

3 yrs (auto)

PBJ / stet / acquittal (pre-Oct 2021)

3 years

Eligible misdemeanor conviction

5 years

2nd degree assault / common law battery conviction

7 years

Eligible felony conviction (most)

7 years

Burglary (1st/2nd degree) / felony theft conviction

10 years

Domestically related conviction

15 years

How to File — Step by Step

1

Check Your Record — Two Sources

Check both the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us and your official RAP sheet from the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). Some charges may not appear on Case Search but still exist on your RAP sheet. Both sources matter for expungement eligibility. Contact CJIS at 410-585-3048 to request your official RAP sheet.

2

Download the Correct Petition Form

Get your petition forms from the Maryland Courts at mdcourts.gov. Use Form CC-DC-CR-072A for non-conviction expungements (PBJ, stet, dismissal, acquittal) and Form CC-DC-CR-072C for conviction expungements. Use the correct form for your situation — submitting the wrong one causes delays.

3

File in the Court Where Your Case Was Concluded

File your petition in the District Court or Circuit Court where your case was originally concluded. Pay the $30 filing fee for conviction expungements — there is no fee for non-conviction expungements. If your case was appealed or transferred, file in the court to which it was transferred. The Maryland Court Help Center can assist at 410-260-1392.

4

State's Attorney Review

After filing, the court serves your petition on the State's Attorney. The State's Attorney has 30 days to object. Victims listed in the case are also notified and may provide input. If an objection is filed, the court schedules a hearing. If no objection is filed within 30 days, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

5

Hearing (If Required) and Order

If a hearing is scheduled, you may present evidence supporting your expungement. The court exercises discretion — consider bringing evidence of rehabilitation, employment, and community involvement. If granted, the court issues an expungement order directing all relevant agencies to remove the records within 60 days. The entire process typically takes about 90 to 120 days from filing.

Official Forms

Maryland Courts — Expungement Forms and Guide

Official expungement forms, eligibility guides, and instructions from the Maryland Judiciary

Visit mdcourts.gov →

Maryland Judiciary Case Search

Check your Maryland court record online — verify case dispositions and whether automatic expungement has been applied

Visit casesearch.courts.state.md.us →

CJIS — Official RAP Sheet Request

Request your official Maryland criminal history (RAP sheet) from the Criminal Justice Information System

Visit dpscs.state.md.us →

Maryland Court Help Center

Free help with expungement forms and eligibility questions — call 410-260-1392 or visit your local courthouse

Visit mdcourts.gov/helpcenter →

Helpful Resources

FREE LEGAL HELP

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

Free expungement clinics and legal help for low-income Marylanders — statewide expungement assistance

mvlslaw.org →

FREE LEGAL HELP

Maryland Legal Aid

Free civil legal help for low-income Marylanders — including expungement assistance in all regions of the state

mdlab.org →

HOUSING, FOOD & BENEFITS

findhelp.org

Search thousands of free and reduced-cost programs for housing, food, work, and more in your area

findhelp.org →

JOB SEARCH HELP

American Job Centers

Free job search assistance, resume help, and training — including resources for people with records

careeronestop.org →

PEOPLE'S LAW LIBRARY

Maryland People's Law Library

Free plain English guides to Maryland expungement law — updated regularly by Maryland Legal Aid

peoples-law.org →

COURT LOCATIONS

Maryland Courts

Find your District Court or Circuit Court to file your expungement petition

mdcourts.gov →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) and can it be expunged? +

Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) is a Maryland-specific disposition where the judge finds you guilty but does not formally enter a conviction — instead placing you on probation. Upon successful completion, the case is treated similarly to a non-conviction for expungement purposes. PBJ is generally eligible for expungement after 3 years. However, if you were convicted of a new crime within 3 years of the PBJ, the PBJ case cannot be expunged. PBJ is one of the most powerful tools in Maryland's system and many people with PBJ dispositions don't realize they can expunge them.

What is a stet and can it be expunged? +

A stet means the case was placed on the inactive docket — the prosecutor agreed to not pursue the case, but it was not formally dismissed. It is a Maryland-specific disposition. Stet cases are eligible for expungement after 3 years, provided no new convictions occurred during that period and there are no pending criminal proceedings. A stet may still appear on your record until expunged — don't assume it's gone just because it's inactive.

How does the 2025 Expungement Reform Act change things? +

The Expungement Reform Act of 2025 (effective October 1, 2025) made three major changes. First, a past probation violation no longer automatically bars expungement — as long as your sentence was ultimately completed, you remain eligible. This reversed a harsh 2022 court ruling. Second, additional misdemeanor convictions were added to the eligible list that were previously excluded. Third, the waiting periods for some offenses were reduced. If you were told before October 2025 that you didn't qualify due to a probation violation, check your eligibility again.

What is the unit rule and how does it affect me? +

Under Maryland's unit rule, expungement applies to entire cases — not individual charges. If you had multiple charges in one case and even one of them is ineligible for expungement, the entire case is blocked — including charges that resulted in acquittal or dismissal. The only current exception is for cannabis charges. This rule frustrates many people who were acquitted of one charge but convicted of another in the same case. Advocate groups continue to push for eliminating the unit rule.

Was my cannabis record automatically expunged? +

Cannabis possession records qualify for automatic expungement in Maryland. Governor Moore pardoned more than 175,000 cannabis convictions in 2024. Starting January 31, 2026, pardoned cannabis convictions will no longer appear on Maryland Judiciary Case Search. However, expunged records may still appear in private or federal background check databases — expungement only covers Maryland state records. Check your Case Search record to verify whether your cannabis record has been removed.

Do I need an attorney? +

For simple non-conviction expungements (dismissed charges, acquittals, PBJ), many people file successfully using the Maryland Courts self-help forms without an attorney. The Maryland Court Help Center at 410-260-1392 provides free guidance. For conviction expungements — especially with the unit rule, multiple cases, or the expanded 2025 provisions — working with an attorney or a Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service clinic significantly improves your chances and avoids filing errors that can delay or block your petition.

After Your Record Is Expunged

After expungement in Maryland, all official records of the case are removed from court, police, and other state agency files. The record will not appear on Maryland Judiciary Case Search or most standard background checks.

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Employment

Expunged records are removed from Maryland state records and will not appear on most standard background checks. Maryland's fair chance hiring law restricts when employers can ask about criminal history. Law enforcement employers and certain regulated professions retain access to expunged records. For most private employment, expungement provides strong protection.

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Private Background Check Databases

Maryland expungement removes records from state court and law enforcement databases — but private background check companies sourcing from their own databases may still show expunged records. Maryland law does not compel private companies to update their databases. Keep your expungement order and dispute any records that still appear through each company's dispute process.

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Gun Rights

Maryland expungement of a felony conviction does not automatically restore federal firearms rights — federal law applies independently. Consult a licensed Maryland attorney before purchasing or possessing a firearm if you have any felony conviction history.

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Federal Records

Maryland expungement does not affect federal criminal records. If you have a federal conviction, it is governed by federal law and falls entirely outside Maryland's expungement statutes. Additionally, expunged Maryland records may still appear in federal background check systems used for immigration, federal employment, or security clearances.

For general information about what changes after expungement — including housing, employment resources, and more — visit our After Expungement page.