At upcoming clinics in Hamilton and Paterson, legal professionals will help residents determine whether they qualify for an expungement and prepare their applications.

New Jersey allows many arrest and conviction records to be removed from public view, which can reduce barriers to employment, housing, and education. But determining who qualifies for the process, known as expungement, and navigating the court system can be daunting without help.

Eligibility depends on how a case ended, the type and number of offenses involved, and how much time has passed since the person completed a sentence, probation, or parole. Different rules apply to convictions, dismissed charges, and diversionary programs under the state’s Clean Slate law.

Applicants must determine whether they qualify and file a petition with the court. The state offers a free online filing system, but the legal requirements can be difficult to understand, particularly for people with multiple or older cases.

New Jersey residents can receive free help at two expungement clinics this month. Attorneys and staff members from the state Office of the Public Defender will screen attendees, explain whether or when they may qualify, and help prepare applications.

The first clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at St. Phillips Baptist Church, 445 Parkinson Ave. in Hamilton. The second clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Islamic Center of Passaic County, 152 Derrom Ave. in Paterson.

No appointment is necessary, although advance registration is encouraged.

“This is literally life-changing,” said James Gee, founder of STONO Public Affairs. “People are navigating a mistake they made when they were in their early twenties. It’s 20, 30, 40 years later and they’re still being held back by the worst day of their life.”

Gee said the clinics bring legal assistance directly into communities and can help residents overcome barriers to employment and housing.

The public defender’s Expungement Unit, created in 2024, has processed more than 4,500 applications, according to the office. More than 300 people received help filing expungement petitions during one week of clinics in July.

“Sometimes people aren’t eligible right now, but we can give them a date on the calendar,” New Jersey Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti said. “That alone gives people a sense of finality and hope.”

What does an expungement do?

An expungement generally removes records of an arrest, conviction, court proceeding, or sentence from public view. That can prevent an old criminal record from appearing in many background checks used by employers, landlords, and schools.

The records are not destroyed. Courts, law enforcement agencies, and some other government entities may still access them in limited circumstances.

In most situations, a person whose record has been expunged may legally say the arrest or conviction did not occur. Exceptions include applications for employment in law enforcement, corrections, or the judicial branch.

Expungements are not limited to convictions. Arrests and charges that ended in an acquittal or dismissal may also be eligible. A dismissed case does not necessarily disappear from a person’s record on its own.

Who qualifies?

Eligibility depends on the type and number of offenses, how the cases ended, and the time that has passed since the person completed all parts of a sentence.

Under New Jersey’s Clean Slate law, someone with eligible convictions may petition to clear an entire criminal record after the required 10-year waiting period. That period is measured from the person’s most recent conviction, completion of probation or parole, release from incarceration, or payment of court-ordered financial obligations, whichever occurred last. The law contains exceptions that may allow an expungement when financial obligations remain unpaid.

People may qualify sooner under other sections of the law. Arrests and charges that ended without a conviction can generally be expunged immediately, although exceptions apply. A case dismissed after successful completion of a diversionary program generally requires a six-month wait.

Certain serious crimes cannot be expunged. They include murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, arson, and terrorism. Eligibility becomes more complicated when someone has multiple convictions, pending charges, unpaid financial obligations, or cases in more than one court.

The state does not charge a fee to file an expungement application. The Judiciary offers a free online filing system and instructions for people representing themselves, but applicants must still determine whether their records meet the legal requirements, and they often need help.

“It’s a privilege to bring our team directly into neighborhoods and into the communities where we live and work, to connect with people who deserve second chances,” Sellitti said.