How Do You Expunge A Criminal Record In Washington State?
Criminal records in Washington may be sealed or destroyed by a process called “expungement” or “vacating.” If a record is sealed, that person can legally tell people, such as employers, that they have never been convicted of the offense. In the case of a felony expungement, the person who successfully seals his or her records regains the right to vote and the right to own firearms. The expungement procedure varies, depending on whether the criminal record was a juvenile or adult conviction. Check to ensure that your juvenile court record was not a sex offense or a Class A felony (such as murder, rape or possession of explosive devices; for a complete list, see page 35 in the resources section). Expungement is not available for these offenses. Do not commit any offense or any crime for a specified time period based on the class of the juvenile offense. Class B offenders must be crime-free for five years; Class C offenders and those convicted of gross misdemeanors must be crime-free for
