A new Minnesota criminal-record expungement law allows people convicted of misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors and some nonviolent felonies to ask a judge to seal their criminal records.

Once expunged, record of those convictions would no longer be available to members of the public or prospective employers requesting Minnesota Public Criminal History reports. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges would still have access to complete criminal records that would still include the expunged convictions.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch's Self Help Center offers a colleciton of expungement resources. The law took effect January 1, 2015.