Expunging a Criminal Record in Maine (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Maine · Last updated August 19, 2026
Maine is one of the most restrictive states in the country for clearing a criminal record, and it is important to be honest about that at the outset: Maine has no general adult expungement statute, and most adult convictions cannot be expunged or sealed. The narrow sealing law under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 reaches only certain Class E (least serious misdemeanor) convictions committed when the person was a young adult, and only after a four-year wait with no other convictions. For most adult felonies and higher misdemeanors, the only relief is a discretionary pardon from the Governor through the Department of Corrections Pardon Board, which does not erase the record but makes it confidential. Separate rules make many non-conviction and juvenile records confidential or sealable. Maine has no automatic 'clean slate' sealing.
Find out where you stand in Maine
What are you trying to clear?
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What criminal record relief does Maine offer, and what is it called?
Maine has no general adult expungement law. The only conviction relief is narrow sealing of certain Class E crimes under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310, plus a discretionary Governor's pardon through the Department of Corrections Pardon Board. A pardon does not erase the record; it makes the conviction confidential rather than destroyed.
What convictions are eligible for sealing in Maine and what is the waiting period?
Only a Class E crime, the least serious misdemeanor level, committed when the person was a young adult may be sealed under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310. You must wait four years after completing the sentence, have no other convictions and no pending charges, and sexual assault offenses are excluded. Most convictions do not qualify.
Can you expunge or seal a felony in Maine?
No. Maine's narrow sealing statute reaches only certain Class E misdemeanor convictions, so felonies (Class A, B, and C crimes) cannot be sealed or expunged. For a felony, the only path to relief is applying to the Governor for a pardon after the waiting period, which is discretionary and rarely granted.
Does Maine have automatic 'clean slate' record sealing?
No. Maine has not enacted any automatic 'clean slate' law, so no eligible conviction is sealed automatically. Every form of relief requires an affirmative step: a motion to seal a qualifying Class E crime under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310, or a written pardon application to the Department of Corrections Pardon Board.
Maine's Near-Absence of Expungement: Narrow Class E Sealing and the Governor's Pardon
Maine stands out as one of the few states with no general adult expungement law, and the honest takeaway is that most adult Maine convictions can never be expunged or sealed. The only statutory conviction relief is a limited sealing remedy under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 (sections 2251 and following), which the Maine Judicial Branch describes on its self-help pages. It applies only to a Class E crime, the least serious misdemeanor level, committed when the person was a young adult, and only after a four-year wait following completion of the sentence with no other convictions, no pending charges, and no sexual assault offense; when the criteria are met the court's sealing is mandatory. Note that the eligible age band for this sealing has been amended several times by the Legislature (18-21, then 18-28, and then narrowed again), so the current age range should be confirmed against the live statute for a specific case. Everything above a Class E crime, including all felonies (Class A, B, and C), falls outside sealing entirely. For those convictions the main relief is executive clemency: a discretionary pardon from the Governor, processed through the Department of Corrections Pardon Board, for which a person generally becomes eligible five years after completing the full sentence including probation. A pardon in Maine does not wipe the record clean; the pardoned conviction becomes confidential criminal history record information rather than being destroyed. Separately, most non-conviction records are not publicly available after one year, and juvenile adjudication records may be sealed on petition three years after the case ends. The State Bureau of Identification within the Maine State Police maintains the state criminal history repository. Maine has no automatic 'clean slate' sealing.
Relevant Laws
Sealing of Class E Convictions (15 M.R.S. Chapter 310, sections 2251 and following)
Maine's only conviction-sealing statute. It permits sealing of certain Class E crimes committed when the person was a young adult, after a four-year wait following completion of the sentence, with no other convictions, no pending charges, and no sexual assault offense. There is no general expungement of Maine convictions. The eligible age band has been amended several times, so confirm the current text.
No Automatic 'Clean Slate' Relief in Maine
Maine has not enacted an automatic 'clean slate' sealing law. No eligible conviction is cleared automatically, and every remedy requires an affirmative filing: a court motion to seal a qualifying Class E crime, or a pardon application to the Department of Corrections Pardon Board.
Executive Clemency and the Governor's Pardon (Department of Corrections Pardon Board)
For convictions that cannot be sealed, the main relief is a discretionary pardon from the Governor, processed through the Department of Corrections Pardon Board. A person generally becomes eligible five years after completing the full sentence including probation. A pardon does not erase the record; the conviction becomes confidential criminal history record information.
No General Federal Expungement of State Records; Maine Non-Conviction and Juvenile Records
There is no general federal law to expunge a Maine state conviction, so relief is a matter of Maine law. In Maine, most non-conviction records are not publicly available after one year absent a pending prosecution, and juvenile adjudication records may be sealed on petition three years after the case ends with no further adjudications.
Regional Variances
Maine Criminal Record Relief Eligibility Table
Relief type and name
Maine has no general adult expungement. The only statutory conviction relief is narrow sealing of certain Class E crimes under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 (sections 2251 and following), and executive clemency in the form of a discretionary Governor's pardon through the Department of Corrections Pardon Board. Neither remedy destroys the record.
Eligible offenses and waiting period by class
Sealing under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 reaches only a Class E crime committed when the person was a young adult, after a four-year wait from completion of the sentence, with no other convictions and no pending charges. The eligible age band has been amended several times (18-21, 18-28, then narrowed), so confirm the current statute. A pardon requires roughly a five-year wait after the sentence, including probation.
Excluded offenses
All felonies (Class A, B, and C) and all misdemeanors above Class E are excluded from sealing entirely, as are sexual assault offenses even at the Class E level, and cases with other convictions or pending charges. Excluded convictions can only be addressed through a discretionary Governor's pardon, which is rarely granted.
Clean-slate status
None. Maine has no automatic 'clean slate' sealing law. Every remedy is petition- or application-based: a court motion to seal a qualifying Class E crime, or a written pardon application to the Pardon Board. The Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification maintains the criminal history repository that reflects any relief granted.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Determine whether any Maine relief applies to your offense class
Before taking any other step days after startingConfirm the offense class, because Maine has no general expungement. Statutory sealing under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 reaches only a Class E crime committed as a young adult, after a four-year wait, with no other convictions and no sexual assault offense. If it is a felony or higher misdemeanor, sealing is unavailable and only a Governor's pardon is possible.
Order your Maine criminal history from the State Bureau of Identification
Early, before preparing any filing days after startingRequest your official record from the Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification, the state repository. Verify the charge, class, disposition, and sentence-completion date, since the four-year sealing wait and the five-year pardon-eligibility wait both run from completion of the sentence, including probation.
Prepare the correct filing: Class E sealing motion or pardon application
After confirming eligibility days after startingFor an eligible Class E conviction, prepare a motion to seal under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 using the Maine Judicial Branch self-help guidance at courts.maine.gov. For any other conviction, prepare a written pardon application for the Department of Corrections Pardon Board. Do not rely on a generic expungement petition, because Maine has none.
File with the correct Maine court or the Pardon Board and provide notice
When the applicable waiting period is met days after startingFile a Class E sealing motion in the Maine trial court where the conviction was entered, with notice to the district attorney. File a pardon application with the Department of Corrections Pardon Board, which uses a public process with notice and often a hearing before a recommendation goes to the Governor.
Confirm the record update and understand the limits of Maine relief
After a decision is issued days after startingIf relief is granted, confirm the State Bureau of Identification updates the record. Remember that Maine sealing and a pardon do not destroy the record; a pardoned conviction remains confidential criminal history record information visible to law enforcement, courts, and some licensing or immigration authorities. An attorney can help you decide whether to pursue relief.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Determine whether any Maine relief applies to your offense class | Confirm the offense class, because Maine has no general expungement. Statutory sealing under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 reaches only a Class E crime committed as a young adult, after a four-year wait, with no other convictions and no sexual assault offense. If it is a felony or higher misdemeanor, sealing is unavailable and only a Governor's pardon is possible. | - | Before taking any other step |
| Order your Maine criminal history from the State Bureau of Identification | Request your official record from the Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification, the state repository. Verify the charge, class, disposition, and sentence-completion date, since the four-year sealing wait and the five-year pardon-eligibility wait both run from completion of the sentence, including probation. | - | Early, before preparing any filing |
| Prepare the correct filing: Class E sealing motion or pardon application | For an eligible Class E conviction, prepare a motion to seal under 15 M.R.S. chapter 310 using the Maine Judicial Branch self-help guidance at courts.maine.gov. For any other conviction, prepare a written pardon application for the Department of Corrections Pardon Board. Do not rely on a generic expungement petition, because Maine has none. | - | After confirming eligibility |
| File with the correct Maine court or the Pardon Board and provide notice | File a Class E sealing motion in the Maine trial court where the conviction was entered, with notice to the district attorney. File a pardon application with the Department of Corrections Pardon Board, which uses a public process with notice and often a hearing before a recommendation goes to the Governor. | - | When the applicable waiting period is met |
| Confirm the record update and understand the limits of Maine relief | If relief is granted, confirm the State Bureau of Identification updates the record. Remember that Maine sealing and a pardon do not destroy the record; a pardoned conviction remains confidential criminal history record information visible to law enforcement, courts, and some licensing or immigration authorities. An attorney can help you decide whether to pursue relief. | - | After a decision is issued |
Frequently Asked Questions
A Class E sealing motion is filed in the trial court where the conviction was entered, and court filing fees and any fee-waiver options should be confirmed with that court. A pardon application to the Maine Department of Corrections Pardon Board does not carry a court filing fee, though gathering records and any legal help add cost. Confirm current amounts before filing.
Timelines vary. A Class E sealing motion depends on the court's schedule once the four-year wait is satisfied. A Governor's pardon in Maine is a discretionary, public process run through the Pardon Board, and can take many months to over a year given notice requirements, hearings, and the Governor's final decision. There is no guaranteed timeframe, and pardons are rarely granted.
Often yes. In Maine, sealing and a pardon do not destroy the record. A pardoned conviction becomes confidential criminal history record information rather than being erased, so law enforcement, the courts, and certain licensing, professional, and immigration authorities may still access it. Maine relief is not a complete public erasure, which is an important limit to understand before you apply.
Be cautious. Because Maine does not erase records, a sealed Class E conviction or a pardoned conviction still exists as confidential information, so answering 'no' to a broad conviction question can be risky depending on how it is worded and who is asking. Maine also limits how criminal history is used in some licensing decisions. An attorney can advise on what you can lawfully state.
Generally no. Maine has no general expungement, and its narrow sealing law reaches only certain Class E crimes committed as a young adult. Operating under the influence in Maine is typically charged at a class above Class E and does not fall within the sealing statute, so an OUI conviction cannot be sealed. The only possible relief would be a discretionary Governor's pardon.
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