Expungement

Expungement seals the record from public view, including most employment background checks. Law enforcement and certain government agencies retain access. Federal agencies may still see the underlying record. Private background check companies sometimes retain old data even after expungement.

Crimes of violence (per RIGL section 11-47-2 definition), DUI convictions, domestic violence convictions in some cases, certain sex offenses, and convictions with multiple prior felony histories cannot be expunged. The statute lists specific exclusions that your lawyer should verify against your record.

5 years after completion of sentence for a first-offense misdemeanor. 10 years for a first-offense felony. The waiting period starts after probation, parole, and all court-ordered conditions are completed. The petition is filed in the court that handled the original case.

No. Rhode Island specifically excludes DUI convictions from the expungement statute. A DUI on your record is permanent. That permanence is why defending the case from day one matters - once convicted, the record stays.

Yes, for some offenses. Rhode Island allows expungement of first-offense misdemeanors after 5 years from completion of sentence and first-offense felonies after 10 years - with specific exclusions. DUI convictions are NOT eligible for expungement in Rhode Island. Eligible expungements seal the record from public view.