Ohio Criminal Record Sealing Lawyer

Ohio law allows the sealing of some criminal records, which can limit public access to qualifying court and agency records. Sealing is not the same as expungement. Ohio law provides different outcomes and eligibility rules for each, and some convictions may be eligible for sealing but not expungement.

Sealing a conviction record

Applications for eligible conviction records are governed by Ohio Revised Code § 2953.32. The court reviews offense eligibility, timing, whether criminal proceedings are pending, rehabilitation, and any legitimate governmental need to keep the record. Exceptions apply, so a case-by-case review is essential.

Sealing a dismissed or acquitted case

Section 2953.33 addresses records after acquittal, dismissal, no-bill, and certain pardons. This procedure is separate from applications involving a conviction. An expungement may be available in some cases, but not every sealing applicant qualifies for expungement.

Local Ohio courts served

We assist with eligible records from Columbiana County (Lisbon, East Liverpool, and Salem), Belmont County (St. Clairsville), Jefferson County (Steubenville), and Mahoning County (Youngstown). The correct court is generally the court that handled the case; the client’s current residence does not by itself determine eligibility or filing location.

Reviewing your options

Logue Law Group can review the docket, final disposition, sentence completion, and current record to identify the appropriate remedy. If a hearing is required, we can prepare the application and represent you. No outcome is guaranteed.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Eligibility depends on the current statute and the complete case record.