Where do I find information about cleaning up my record?
There are three different procedures for cleaning up your court record.
Expungementremoves information about your case from court and law enforcement records. It may be available if you were not convicted in your criminal case. If you were convicted, you may be eligible if you were convicted of certain nuisance crimes, certain eligible misdemeanor and felony convictions, or if the act on which your conviction is based is no longer a crime. For more information, view the expungement page, visit the People’s Law Library of Maryland, or watch a video series on expungement or a series of webinars taught by a Maryland lawyer.
Shielding Criminal Recordsremoves criminal records from public view, including Case Search. It may be available if you were convicted of certain misdemeanors. Although removed from public view, the records of the case are still available to law enforcement and other agencies. For more information, view the page on shielding criminal records or visit the People’s Law Library of Maryland.
Access to Other Court Records.Sealing or shielding a case record is the process of requesting the court to keep certain information private. You can request to shield certain protective orders and peace orders. Victims or witnesses in criminal cases can shield identifying information. Depending on the circumstances of the case, some Failure to Pay Rent cases are eligible for automatic shielding or shielding upon request. Find out more about shielding and sealing case records by viewing the page on access to court records, or visiting the People’s Law Library of Maryland.
Last updated: February 2025