A sealed record is not publicly available. The statutes authorizing sealing of records are Ohio Revised Code sections 2953.32 & 2953.52. This area of the law changes often and it is recommended that you consider consulting an attorney to help you with the sealing process.

The application must be notarized and filed with the court along with a $50.00 filing fee. If the charge was dismissed or if you were found not guilty, there is no filing fee. Once the application is filed, the matter is set for a hearing within three to four weeks at which time the judge will hold a short hearing and consider the merits of the application. You must be present or the request for sealing will be dismissed and the filing fee forfeited. If the sealing is granted, an order will be signed by the Judge. The court will then seal its record and an order to seal will be sent to all other involved agencies. Questions concerning this process should be directed toward legal counsel.

There are several very good reasons to seek to seal a criminal record. When you apply for some jobs, apartments, and licenses they will look at your criminal record. If you have a conviction on your record, it is unlikely that you will be chosen for the job, given the apartment to rent, or allowed to get a license. When you appear as a witness in court, you may be asked about your past criminal record. If you have a conviction, your testimony may be questioned or disregarded.

If your record is sealed, nothing will show up when your record is checked. After sealing is finished, when asked about your past criminal record, you can honestly say that you have none. You can act as if the arrest and conviction never took place.

No. Even if your record is sealed, certain individuals may still have access to the information:

Only first time offenders may seal a conviction. This means that you cannot have more than one criminal offense on your record. If there were two or more convictions based on the same action, you may have both convictions sealed. For instance, if you were convicted of shoplifting and resisting arrest as a result of the shoplifting, you can get both records sealed. However, if the cases originated on different days and from different events, neither may be sealed. In addition, you cannot have current criminal charges pending against you, or have had a conviction previously sealed. If you were charged and not convicted, you can have the records of your charges sealed.

If your crime was a misdemeanor, you must wait one year after your final discharge from probation.

You may apply immediately.

You must wait two years to apply.

Yes. The following cases are not eligible to be sealed: