Sealing Adult Criminal Court Files Checklist A criminal defendant can petition the court for an order sealing the court files and records in the proceeding, if the court makes and enters written findings that sealing is justified by identified compelling privacy or safety concerns that outweigh the public interest in access to the court record. Sufficient privacy or safety concerns that may be weighed against the public interest include findings that:
(A) The sealing is permitted by statute; or (B) The sealing furthers an Order to Strike entered under CR 12(f) or a protective order entered under CR 26(c); or (C) A conviction has been vacated; or (D) The sealing furthers an order entered pursuant to product liability/hazardous substances claims under RCW 4.24.611; or (E) The redaction includes only restricted personal identifiers contained in the court record; or (F) Another identified compelling circumstance exists that requires the sealing or redaction. |
Sealing Juvenile Criminal Court Files Checklist1. I have no criminal charges pending against me, anywhere.
2. I am not currently completing a Diversion Agreement. 3. I do not owe any restitution for the case I want to seal. 4. The offense I want to seal is not 1st or 2nd Degree Rape, Indecent Liberties or Forcible Compulsion. 5. a) If Juvenile Class A Felony and not a sex offense, it has been more than 5 years since the date of last sentencing/disposition or date I was released from confinement, whichever is later. -OR- b) If other type case, including Diversion Agreements, but not sex offenses, it has been more than 2 years since the date of last sentencing/disposition or date I was released from confinement, whichever is later. -OR- c) If Sex Offense, in addition to all the above requirements, I am no longer required to register as a sex offender under RCW 9A.44.130 or RCW 9A.44.143. |
Expunging Criminal History Checklist1. The information contained in my criminal history records has become non-conviction data. 2. I am not a fugitive of the law. 3. My case is not under active prosecution. 4. It has been either: a) 2 years or longer since the record became non-conviction data as a result of a disposition favorable to the defendant -OR- b) 3 years or longer since the date of arrest or issuance of the citation or warrant for an offense for which no conviction data was obtained. |