Maryland’s Expungement Laws: How to Clear Your Criminal Record
The Law Offices of Terri D. Mason helps you pick the record-clearing path that fits your case—expungement, shielding, or a pardon—so you can compete for jobs, housing, and licenses with confidence. If you’re ready to move forward, start a confidential case review session. Below, you’ll find the available routes to clear a record, the time frames that apply, and the filing steps your top-rated criminal lawyer uses to avoid common pitfalls.
Petition for Expungement of Eligible Cases
Maryland’s primary tool is expungement, which removes eligible police and court records from public view. You can seek expungement for acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi, stet, PBJ, NCR, and juvenile-transfer dispositions, subject to waiting periods (often 3 years) or a waiver and release; courts use standard CC-DC-CR-072A/072B petitions.
Note a key carve-out: PBJ for alcohol DUI/DWI can be expunged after 15 years from discharge from probation (subject to conditions), and filing too soon—or with an ineligible count—will be denied. Forms and instructions are published by the Maryland Judiciary and cite Criminal Procedure § 10-105.
Practical tip: confirm that probation is complete and that you have no new disqualifying convictions during the waiting period before filing.
Automatic (and Early) Expungement of Certain Non-Convictions
For cases where all charges ended in acquittal, not guilty, dismissal, or nolle prosequi on or after Oct. 1, 2021, the court automatically expunges after three years. If you can’t wait, you may file Form CC-DC-CR-072C to obtain earlier expungement at no fee (you’ll typically sign a waiver and release). This is a fast way to remove stale non-conviction records that still appear on public searches and employer screens.
Expungement of Specified Convictions After Set Time Frames
Maryland now permits expungement of certain convictions after longer waiting periods—examples include nuisance crimes (≈3 years), second-degree assault (≈7 years), and specified burglary/theft convictions (≈10 years); domestically related crimes may require ≈15 years. Use CC-DC-CR-072B and ensure every sentence, probation, and fine is satisfied. Filing too early or while a new case is pending will derail the petition. Judiciary forms detail these categories and time lines.
Beware the “unit rule.” Charges from the same incident are treated as a unit—if any count in that unit is ineligible, it can block expungement of the rest (with limited exceptions for minor traffic and some cannabis possession charges). Plan filings around the unit rule to avoid avoidable denials.
Record Shielding Under the Maryland Second Chance Act
If a conviction cannot be expunged, shielding may still hide it from public view. Under the Second Chance Act, you can petition to shield one or more “shieldable” convictions after 3 years from completion of sentence; the record remains available to law enforcement and certain agencies, but most employers and landlords cannot see it. Shielding does not apply to domestically related crimes and only covers a defined list. The Judiciary’s guide explains eligible offenses and filing steps.
Pardons and Cannabis-Related Relief—Then Follow With Court Filings
A gubernatorial pardon forgives a conviction but does not automatically expunge the court file. After receiving a pardon, you may be able to petition for expungement under §10-105 based on the pardon. In June 2024, Governor Wes Moore issued mass pardons for 175,000 cannabis-related convictions; those pardons help with background checks, but individuals often still need to pursue expungement or shielding to clear the public record.
Call a Criminal Attorney in Baltimore for Faster Maryland Record Relief
The best Baltimore criminal lawyer at Law Offices of Terri D. Mason evaluates your record against § 10-105 expungement, § 10-303 shielding, and pardon-based relief, then files the correct CC-DC-CR-072 petitions and addresses unit-rule and timing traps that cause denials; with Maryland’s automatic expungement for some non-convictions and expanded conviction relief, precise strategy can open doors to jobs and housing—contact us today.