⚖️ Missouri Expungement Laws
Missouri’s main expungement statute is Missouri Revised Statutes § 610.140, which governs most adult criminal record expungements.
✔️ What can be expunged
Missouri allows expungement of:
- Many misdemeanors
- Some non-violent felonies
- Certain arrests, dismissed cases, or acquittals
- Some infractions (no limit on number)
You can request expungement by filing a petition in the court where the case occurred.
🚫 What cannot be expunged
Missouri law specifically excludes serious offenses, including:
- Class A felonies (most serious crimes)
- Violent or “dangerous” felonies
- Domestic assault (misdemeanor or felony)
- Felony assault offenses
- Crimes requiring sex offender registration
- Felonies involving death
- Kidnapping (felony)
These are permanently ineligible.
🔢 Limits on how many records you can clear
As of recent updates:
- Up to 2 felony convictions
- Up to 3 misdemeanor convictions
- Unlimited infractions
⏳ Waiting periods (recent changes)
Missouri has shortened waiting periods in recent years:
- Misdemeanors: about 18 months after completion of sentence
- Felonies: about 3 years after completion
(Older timelines were longer, but reforms reduced them.)
⚖️ Court requirements
To be granted expungement, you generally must:
- Complete your sentence (including probation/parole)
- Have no pending charges
- Show rehabilitation and good conduct
- Prove expungement is consistent with public welfare
A judge ultimately decides.
🧾 Effect of expungement
If granted:
- The record is sealed from public view
- You can often legally say the offense did not occur
- Law enforcement and courts can still access it in limited situations
🧩 Special types of expungement
Missouri also allows:
- Arrest record expungement in limited cases (e.g., false arrest) under Missouri Revised Statutes § 610.122
- Marijuana-related expungements under legalization reforms
- Possible automatic expungements for certain minor offenses starting in 2025
🏛️ Missouri Pardons (Executive Clemency)
✔️ Who grants pardons
Pardons in Missouri are issued by the Governor of Missouri.
Applications are reviewed through the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.
🔑 What a pardon does
A pardon:
- Forgives the offense
- May restore civil rights (like firearm rights, depending on terms)
- Does NOT erase or seal the record
⚠️ Key realities about pardons
- They are discretionary and relatively rare
- There is no guaranteed eligibility timeline
- Strong evidence of rehabilitation is usually required
🔍 Key Difference: Expungement vs. Pardon
| Feature | Expungement | Pardon |
|---|---|---|
| Removes record from public view | ✔️ Yes | ❌ No |
| Forgives the offense | ❌ No | ✔️ Yes |
| Granted by | Court | Governor |
| Availability | Limited but structured | Rare and discretionary |
💡 Bottom line
Missouri has become more expungement-friendly in recent years, with:
- Shorter waiting periods
- More offenses eligible
- Higher limits on how many records you can clear
But:
- Serious/violent crimes remain ineligible
- Pardons are still uncommon and harder to obtain
The state of Missouri provides a clemency pardon. Before recommendation is sent to the governor, all applications are reviewed and investigated by the Board of Probation and Parole. Before an application for a pardon can be requested, there must be a three year waiting period after completion of sentence and no further charges gathered, excluding minor traffic violations. If a pardon is denied, the applicant must wait three more years to reapply.
There are no public hearings for a pardon request and the recommendation is sent to the Governor in writing. All hearings on matters of clemency are closed to the public. Upon completion of sentence, all rights are automatically restored.