Source review: October 11, 2026. Information only, not legal advice.
New Jersey criminal record expungement
New Jersey offers several expungement routes: a five-year route for indictable convictions (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2) and disorderly persons convictions (2C:52-3), a ten-year Clean Slate route for a whole record (2C:52-5.1), immediate expungement of non-conviction arrest records (2C:52-6), automatic expungement of many pre-2021 marijuana convictions under the 2021 cannabis reform, and immediate expungement on drug-court completion. The details below are a summary, not legal advice.
What relief routes does New Jersey offer?
- Indictable conviction expungement (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2). New Jersey's felony-equivalent route; five-year general wait from completion of sentence, reduced from ten years by L.2019, c.269.
- Disorderly / petty disorderly persons expungement (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-3). The misdemeanor-equivalent route; five-year general wait.
- Clean Slate (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.1). Ten years from the most recent conviction or release, whichever is later; multiple convictions can be expunged in one petition.
- Non-conviction arrest records (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-6). No wait period once the case is finally disposed.
- Cannabis auto-expungement (N.J.S.A. 24:6I-31 and 2C:52-6.1). CREAMMA (2021) made many pre-2021 marijuana convictions eligible for automatic expungement.
- Drug court (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-14(m)). Immediate expungement on successful completion.
What cannot be expunged?
Categorical exclusions include murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, first-degree robbery, human trafficking, terrorism, treason, and perjury or false swearing affecting public office (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(b) and 2C:52-14).
Can a general screener decide New Jersey eligibility?
No. The RecordReset screener can identify a possible match for review but cannot confirm eligibility; the court decides. It does not offer a New Jersey filing workbook, filing service, or attorney review. Petitions are filed with New Jersey Courts, which publishes the current expungement forms and e-filing portal.
New Jersey record-clearing law is primarily under N.J.S.A. § 2C:52-1 et seq. (expungement) and the Clean Slate law (P.L. 2019, c. 269). The information here is a summary and not a substitute for review by a licensed New Jersey attorney.
Questions people ask
How long is the general New Jersey waiting period?
Five years from completion of sentence for an indictable conviction (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2) or a disorderly/petty disorderly persons conviction (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-3), reduced from ten years by the 2019 reform.
What is New Jersey Clean Slate?
N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.1 allows expungement of a person's whole record ten years after the most recent conviction or release, whichever is later, including multiple convictions in a single petition.
Are arrests without conviction treated differently?
Yes. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-6, an arrest that did not lead to a conviction can be expunged with no waiting period once the case is finally disposed.
RecordReset is a self-help legal information service, not a law firm. A screening can only say a case may match published rules and needs review. A court or agency determines relief. RecordReset does not file cases or offer attorney review; paid enrollment and draft PDFs are paused for legal and form review.