What Can I Get Expunged?

The State of Rhode Island allows certain crimes to be expunged from the record, which means removed from common view. Prospective employers, schools, and lending institutions often take into account your criminal history when considering you for a position or loan, so it is important to make sure that there is nothing on your record holding you back from your dream job or a chance at a college education. But before you can get your crimes expunged, you need to know what can and what can't be removed.

Crimes That Can Be Expunged

You can expunge any criminal convictions as long as they aren't considered “crimes of violence” by the state. Misdemeanors can be expunged five years after the day you were sentenced, while you can expunge felonies ten years after you were sentenced. Additionally, to qualify for expungement under Rhode Island state law, you must be a first-time offender; that is, you must have no other criminal charges on your record.

Crimes That Can't Be Expunged

Rhode Island does not permit the expungement of “crimes of violence.” The state defines these crimes, and considers them serious enough that they must remain on your record. These crimes include:

• Murder and manslaughter
• First-degree arson
• Kidnapping
• Robbery
• Larceny
• First- and second-degree sexual assault
• First- and second-degree child molestation
• Assault
• Burglary

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, you cannot get crimes expunged if you have additional crimes on your record.

Contact Us

If you have a crime on your record that you want to have expunged, contact Rhode Island expungement lawyer James Powderly at 401-662-9006 for the experienced assistance you need.