Clean Slate Act-related Records Expungements Underway

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has expunged (sealed) more than 75,000 records in the state's Criminal History System (CHS) following Minnesota Judicial Branch review in compliance with the Clean Slate Act, under MN Statute 609A.015.

These records now appear in the Clean Slate Expungement Report, a by-agency list of Clean Slate Act-expunged records in CHS. The report serves as notice to your agency that expungement relief was granted.

The work on approximately 2 million additional qualifying records is underway. Those approved for expungement – both past and future records – will be added to the Clean Slate Expungement Report as expungements occur.

How does the Clean Slate Act affect local agency records?

The Clean Slate Act requires automatic expungement (sealing) of certain records from a person's BCA criminal history that in the past would require the person to petition the court for an order expunging the record. Local agencies are not required to expunge records within their own systems. However, agencies should refer to the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS prior to releasing any records to ensure records contained in the report are not released.

It is important to review the Clean Slate Expungement Report because the report contains all levels of offenses that have been expunged, including petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor records that are not available through running a CHS report.  

Because these expungements apply to both prior and future records, agencies should now begin including a check of the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS as part of your data practices processes on an ongoing basis.

Training available

Training on how to access the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS is available on the BCA Launch Pad within the NexTEST training library.

Additionally, a new Expungement Manual for law enforcement leaders, city attorneys, and staff covering Minnesota Criminal Expungement matters was recently published by Richard Hodsdon, general counsel for the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA). MSA also plans to offer quarterly training in 2026, with the first training session scheduled for Jan. 27.

Questions?

Questions can be directed to Jill Oliveira, public information officer, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-793-2726 or jill.oliveira@state.mn.us.

Stay Safe,

Tracy