How to Seal Your Criminal Record in Nevada: A Step-by-Step Guide

A criminal conviction can cast a long shadow over your life, affecting everything from job prospects to housing opportunities and even your parental rights. In Nevada, however, you may be able to do something about the fact that you have a criminal conviction on your public record by getting that record sealed. Record sealing removes your conviction from public view, offering you a fresh start without the burden of a visible criminal past. To help you get started, The Vegas Lawyers offer a step-by-step guide that explains how to seal your criminal record in Nevada.

What Does It Mean to Seal Your Record in Nevada?

Before taking action, it is important to understand what you can, and cannot, achieve by sealing your criminal record in Nevada. Sealing a criminal record in Nevada does not erase or destroy the record, but it does remove the record from public access. Once sealed, the record is no longer visible to most employers, landlords, or members of the public conducting background checks, although law enforcement and certain authorized agencies may still access sealed records under specific circumstances.

Am I Eligible to Seal My Criminal Record in Nevada?

If you are concerned about your criminal record following you for the remainder of your life, consider yourself fortunate to be dealing with the laws of the State of Nevada as they have relatively liberal record-sealing laws. Most criminal convictions are eligible to be sealed except for sex crimes, felony drunk or drugged driving, invasion of the home with a deadly weapon, and crimes committed against children under the age of 18. You may, however, be required to wait to seal your record because Nevada does use the following waiting periods, calculated from the date of release from actual custody, completion of a suspended sentence, or discharge from parole or probation, whichever occurs later:

• A category A or B felony: 15 years.
• A category C or D felony: 12 years.
• A category E felony: 10 years.
• Any gross misdemeanor: 7 years.
• A violation of NRS 484.379 (Driving under the influence) other than a felony, or a battery which constitutes domestic violence pursuant to NRS 33.018 other than a felony:  7 years.
• Any other misdemeanor: 3 years.

What Are the Steps Involved in Sealing a Criminal Record in Nevada?

Understanding how to seal your criminal record in Nevada is crucial to putting your past mistakes behind you and moving forward with your life. With that in mind, the following steps are typically required to seal a record in Nevada:

1. Request a SCOPE Report: SCOPE stands for “Shared Computer Operations for Protection and Enforcement” which is a report that serves as a verified copy of your criminal history. You must request a SCOPE report from the law enforcement agency that arrested you. For example, if you were arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), contact them at (702) 828-3475 to obtain a report.
2. Obtain Judgment of Conviction and Discharge:  You also need to obtain a copy of the “Judgment of Conviction and Discharge” for each conviction you wish sealed. If your case was prosecuted in Las Vegas, the Judgment can be obtained from the District Court Clerk at 200 Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155. The Judgment must show that the case was “closed.” The date shown in that document will be used to determine your applicable waiting period.
3. Determine Where to File: The SCOPE report also indicates which court has jurisdiction, meaning where to file your petition. If all records are from a single Justice Court (such as Henderson Justice Court), you can file your petition directly with that court; however, if multiple jurisdictions are involved, you will need to file with the District Court.
4. Prepare Your Documents: You must file a Petition that includes all your arrests, the police agencies that arrested you, the dates of the arrests, criminal charges filed against you, and the final disposition of each case. In addition, you must file an Affidavit and proposed Order with the appropriate Court.
5. Make Copies for the District Attorney’s Office: Make copies of all your documents and deliver them to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office for review. Ideally, the District Attorney’s Office will stipulate that you are eligible to have your record sealed. If the D.A.’s office does agree, you will be notified and told how/when to pick up the signed stipulation.
6. File with the Court: Ultimately, you must file all your documents with the appropriate Court for the judge to review. If everything is in order, and the judge agrees that sealing of your record is warranted, the judge will sign an Order.
7. Send Copies to Law Enforcement Agencies: If you do get a signed Order, it is up to you to make sure that all relevant law enforcement agencies receive a copy of the Order. The law enforcement agency is then legally obligated to remove (seal) the relevant record(s) from their computer system.

Contact A Las Vegas Criminal Record Sealing Lawyer at The Vegas Lawyers

If you have a criminal record that you want removed from your criminal history, consult with an experienced criminal record-sealing lawyer at The Vegas Lawyers as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. Call us at 702-707-7000 or contact us online.

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