The laws on expungement and record sealing changed on September 30, 2025 to make it easier to expunge criminal records.
Expungement means permanently deleting the record. Under Ohio law, once the record is expunged, it is as if it never happened. If your record is expunged, you do not have to disclose your conviction, arrest, or any charge against you when you apply for most jobs.
Some records cannot be expunged and can only be sealed. Sealing an Ohio criminal conviction removes the conviction from public court records but does not erase it. Sealed records are kept private, and can only be seen by certain employers, agencies, and law enforcement. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) keeps a record of all sealed criminal records.
If a person cannot expunge or seal their criminal record, a Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) or pardon may also be an option for relief.
More information is available in this brochure published by Legal Aid: