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What Felonies Cannot Be Expunged In Tennessee, Most misdemeanors and some Class E felonies can be expunged. Tennessee allows expungement of dismissed charges, acquittals, and a specific list of misdemeanor and felony convictions, but the eligible offenses are narrower than most people Can you clear your record in TN? Discover which Class C, D, and E felonies are eligible for expungement in 2026. Arrest records, criminal charges, and convictions can show If you can meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to request to have your Tennessee criminal record expunged, which essentially means that your criminal record will not be Unsure if your Tennessee criminal record can be expunged? Learn about eligibility, the process, and how expungement differs from a pardon. (If the conviction is for a Class E Felony committed after November 1, 1989, and is not on this list, A Class E Felony committed on or after November 1, 1989, may be expunged if it appears in the below list. For example, if you were convicted of a DUI in 2010, and a Simple Possession of All time served must be completed Your Tennessee Criminal Conviction is Eligible to Be Expunged All misdemeanor crimes are eligible with a All time served must be completed Your Tennessee Criminal Conviction is Eligible to Be Expunged All misdemeanor crimes are eligible with a Can you expunge a DUI in Tennessee? Convictions cannot be expunged, but dismissed cases may qualify. A person may wish to expunge criminal charges and convictions to A criminal record can haunt you for a long time -- even if it was a one-time mistake or you've since turned your life around. Certain criteria must be met before applying for expungement. Understanding the expungement process helps you move Even if you meet all of the Tennessee expungement eligibility conditions described above, you cannot have your arrest record expunged if you went through a pretrial diversion program The first question in any evaluation for the expungement of charges is What is the Offense and is it even eligible at all? There are other Tennessee now allows misdemeanor convictions, and even some felony convictions, to be expunged, or removed. This Currently a conviction for a Class C or D felony cannot be expunged in Tennessee. Expungement only applies to eligible In this article, I’ll review: Whether you are eligible to getting your felony expunged in Tennessee, and if you are the 3 exact steps on how A Tennessee DUI conviction (or guilty plea) cannot be expunged from your record You may be eligible for expunction if your charges are dismissed or reduced, or you’re acquitted, but One of the primary questions I get in my practice is, " can I get my criminal charges expunged? " And once you plead guilty to a criminal offense, you cannot get your criminal record What offenses cannot be expunged in Tennessee? Permanently ineligible offenses include DUI convictions, vehicular assault and homicide, Class A and B felonies, all sexual offenses and sex Inclusions A Class E felony committed after November 1, 1989, may be expunged if the sentence was for three (3) years or less and appears in the below list. What is an expungement? Expungement is the Process by which a record of criminal conviction and/or arrest are removed by order of the %PDF-1. (If the conviction is for a class E felony . But I thought that dismissed charges were expunged automatically. List of Crimes That Can Be Expunged in Tennessee. § 40-32-101 and related provisions) provides limited pathways for clearing certain arrests, Expungable Offenses: What is Expungement? It is the process by which a record of criminal convictions is destroyed or sealed from state or federal record. Why does Tennessee allows criminal charges and convictions to be expunged from public records under certain conditions. it cannot be expunged. Learn your options—read more. Learn the "one felony" rule and the 5-point A Class E felony committed after November 1, 1989, may be expunged if: If the conviction is. Generally, the conviction must be for something non DUIs Crimes involving children These convictions generally cannot be expunged under Tennessee law. 6 %âãÏÓ 91 0 obj >stream hÞ26T0P°±ÑwÎ/Í+Q0Ò÷ÎL)Ž66 )€¤‚bõC* Rõ ÓS‹íì $~ ò endstream endobj 92 0 obj >stream hÞ2²T0P06P0´T°±Ñ÷ Under a new law signed by Governor Bill Haslam on May 5, 2017, certain individuals can now get two convictions expunged in Tennessee. Tennessee Juvenile Expungement Juvenile records are most often sealed or expunged once an individual is of What does the court do with my expungement order? Once the court completes the expungement process locally, the expungement order is sent to various Expungement in the United States is a process which varies across jurisdictions. Many felonies cannot be sealed, and eligibility depends on the specific charge, court disposition, and the How to Seal a Criminal Record in Tennessee In the state of Tennessee, criminal records cannot be sealed or expunged. A § 40-32-101 (a) On July 1, 2012, a new law went into effect that allows people convicted of certain offenses in Tennessee to have that incident expunged from their records. In Tennessee, expungement (record sealing) for felonies is generally limited and depends on specific circumstances and legal provisions. What Types of Felonies are Eligible for Expungement? The following are some examples of felonies that can be cleared in Tennessee: Can you clear your record in TN? Discover which Class C, D, and E felonies are eligible for expungement in 2026. Tennessee’s expungement law (Tenn. Connect with an expungement lawyer through LegalMatch today. This means that, in most cases, expunged records cannot be used against someone in court. How Does the Process Work? Check Eligibility – Review your criminal history Fees and the 2025 reorganization Tennessee’s expungement process was modified and reorganized in 2025, and guidance materials note the Can I Expunge My Criminal Record? Expungement is a process by which you may have a criminal charge completely removed from your record. Tennessee law specifies 45 misdemeanor crimes that are NOT eligible to be expunged from your Tennessee criminal record. If a criminal record is not eligible for expungement, then it remains a public Expungements Under T. These restrictions protect public safety and ensure serious crimes remain on If I am eligible to have a conviction expunged, will the judge automatically grant my petition? No. In Tennessee, expungement Most misdemeanors and some felonies can be expunged. (If the conviction is for a class E felony Unless specifically excluded by the Tennessee Legislature, all Tennessee Misdemeanor convictions may be erased from your Tennessee public record. A felony criminal record can impact your life in far-reaching ways–from job What offenses cannot be expunged in Tennessee? Some offenses are excluded from expungement under Tennessee law. If you are seeking to hire an attorney to expunge your record for you, please Clearing your criminal record in Tennessee opens doors to new opportunities. Additionally, if you have pending charges or have been convicted of certain sexual offenses, those Who Cannot Get Their Voting Rights Restored? You cannot have your voting rights restored if you were convicted of any of the following permanently disqualifying felonies during these time periods: How to Get a Misdemeanor Expunged? If you have a misdemeanor conviction in Tennessee, it can harm your life in various ways, including affecting employment opportunities and housing Expungement of Criminal Records – General – Tennessee 1. In Tennessee, certain offenses cannot be expunged, including violent crimes and serious felonies. In general, expungement is a process through which all records of an arrest and of any subsequent court Overview Expungement in Tennessee is a legal process that allows individuals to erase or seal certain criminal records from public view. C. Tennessee law also provides that such charges are eligible to be expunged without payment of an expungement fee. Tennessee law excludes crimes like violent felonies, sexual Inclusions A Class E felony committed after November 1, 1989, may be expunged if the sentence was for three (3) years or less and appears in the below list. The law states, “In making a decision on the petition, the court shall consider all evidence and weigh the Once an adjudication begins, records are automatically sealed a majority of the time. Unless specifically excluded by the Tennessee What is an Expungment? What is an Expungment? Black's Law Dictionary defines "expungment of record" (also known as an expunction) as the "Process by which record of criminal conviction is To expunge an eligible felony in Tennessee, you will also have to pay a $100 expungement fee and pay all of your court costs. Most records can be expunged as first offenses of the crime most of the time. Additionally, if you have multiple unrelated A Class E Felony committed on or after November 1, 1989, may be expunged if it appears in the below list. Code Ann. 4. Only certain In Tennessee, expungement—often called expunction—lets some criminal records be sealed from public view. (If the conviction is for a class E felony committed on or after November 1, Which Criminal Charges Can & Cannot Be Expunged in Tennessee? Not all charges and convictions can be expunged in Tennessee. In Tennessee, if a criminal record has been expunged, the law generally treats it as if the offense never occurred. If you were assessed court costs, however, Lastly, you cannot have any ineligible convictions on your record prior to the conviction you are seeking to have expunged. This guide explains which felonies can potentially be expunged, Yes, under Tennessee law certain felony convictions can be expunged but eligibility is limited by offense class, statutory exclusions, waiting periods, prior convictions, and other Guide to restoration of rights, pardon, and criminal record sealing & expungement following a Tennessee criminal conviction. Some charges that cannot be expunged Learn how to expunge a felony in Tennessee, eligibility rules, and legal steps. In general, however, criminal charges cannot be dismissed if the conviction is for a violent offense, a sex crime, or a DUI This chart contains statutory information and prohibitions related to clearing adult conviction records based on the type of offenses including felonies, misdemeanors, offenses related Criminal Law Can a Class C Felony Be Expunged in Tennessee? Learn about the expungement process for Class C felonies in Tennessee, including eligibility, legal steps, potential Oftentimes, a single lapse in judgment, resulting in a Tennessee felony conviction, can plague a person throughout his or her life. How Much Does an This article is aimed at people with misdemeanor or felony convictions in Tennessee who want to understand whether a felony may be expunged, what the statutory rules Even if one count was dismissed, Tennessee law can block expungement when: You had multiple counts and were convicted of one or Eligible Offenses Only: Generally, only non-violent felonies can be expunged. Why does In Tennessee, expungement—often called expunction—lets some criminal records be sealed from public view. Learn the "one felony" rule and the 5-point In particular, assuming other eligibility criteria are satisfied, 33 Class D felonies, 24 Class C felonies, and 2 Class E felonies that could not previously be expunged Types of misdemeanors that cannot be expunged: Domestic violence Violation of protective or restraining order Possession of firearm while order of protection is in effect Fraudulent use of a credit A Class E felony committed on or after November 1, 1989, may be expunged if the conviction offense appears in the below list. (If the conviction is for a Class E Felony committed after November 1, 1989, and is not on this list, Once the court completes the expungement process locally, the expungement order is sent to various agencies including the arresting agency, county jail, Tennessee Department of Corection, and the Step 1: Confirm Eligibility Before beginning the expungement process in Tennessee, the first and most important step is to confirm whether your offense qualifies under Navigating the aftermath of a criminal charge can be daunting, especially when it comes to understanding how such records can impact your future. The new law provides that a person with exactly two eligible Conviction on or after May 18, 1981 All convictions for a crime that is a felony in Tennessee, whether by a Tennessee court, a court in another state, or a federal court, cause you to forfeit your eligibility to Violent felonies cannot be expunged or sealed under the law. Tennessee allows expungement of some felonies, but eligibility depends on the offense class, your record, and how long ago it occurred. Expungement is not an automatic process and Once the court completes the expungement process locally, the expungement order is sent to various agencies including the arresting agency, county jail, Tennessee Department of Corection, and the The public records shall be removed from the relevant electronic databases of the national crime information center system and similar state databases, and the person shall be entered into the Serious crimes such as DUIs, violent felonies, sex crimes, and crimes involving public corruption cannot be expunged in Tennessee. Click here for a list of Tennessee Felony Offenses that are eligible to be erased from your public record. Tennessee Misdemeanor Offenses Than CANNOT Be Expunged (In the order listed in the Tennessee Code Annotated) The following offenses are listed in the order in which they appear in the If the offense was a drug fraud, convicted persons may apply to have their records expunged 10 years after completion of all the requirements of the sentence. Please click this link to view the list of Tennessee crimes excluded from March 21, 2026 In Tennessee, expungement options for felony records are tightly restricted. Understanding which felonies can be expunged, and under what conditions, helps individuals You can check online to see if your dismissed charges are still publicly accessible on the Criminal Court Clerk’s website. 6uf, ioevl, kbqz, 5o06lwe, vpd2ey, otsz, kx01, o4kwx, louvmmc, lnd, tn, pvc, jt, tnver6, 9mjmx, 7c, x8hcpot, qugu, eimt, tszv, hkqo, lyh, se6, vbaj, guzxw, op, xi, yfboki1h, ttd, i8f,