Minnesota Clean Slate Law Details

Minnesota passed a Clean Slate law in 2023. Records eligible for automatic sealing include non-conviction records, most misdemeanor convictions, and many non-violent felonies already eligible for petition-based sealing. Waiting periods are 2 years for petty misdemeanors and misdemeanors, 3 years for gross misdemeanors, and 5 years for eligible felonies after sentence completion. Certain offenses, such as domestic violence, DUIs, and sexual offenses, are excluded. The law also enables automatic expungement of pardoned convictions and cases of mistaken identity. 

In Minnesota, sealing a record means that it will no longer show up on background checks for most jobs and occupational licenses, and you can answer most questions about your criminal record as if it never occurred.