“Expungement” means removal of a record from public access but does not mean destruction of the record. An expunged record is confdential, but remains available for use by law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, and other state agencies as stated under Louisiana law.

No, an expungement seals, but does not destroy or erase a record of arrest or conviction. Additionally, some government agencies may still able to view an arrest record even after it has been expunged. They are as follows: The Office of Financial Institutions, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners, the Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions, the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, or any person or entity requesting a record of all criminal arrests and convictions pursuant to R.S. 15:587.1, or as otherwise provided by law.

YES! The individual has no prior felony convictions anywhere in the country. The individual has no pending felonies. The offense for which the individual was prosecuted ended in an acquittal, motion to quash, or it has been dismissed/refused and the time limit for prosecution has expired. The offense was not dismissed after successful completion of diversion. Besides a fee waiver from the District Attorney, you may be able to file your expungement without paying costs upfront if you complete an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) form, and a judge grants your request. Louisiana law allows this under La. Code of Crim. Pro. art. 983(L). This form means you do not pay upfront, but if your expungement is denied you may have to pay later. This is entirely up to the judge and is within their “discretion” meaning they are not required to grant an IFP, and other agencies who get expungement fees can challenge your IFP before your expungement is granted. Steps to complete your IFP: Check your eligibility. This is based on your income and expenses, so if you receive SNAP benefits, SSI, or Medicaid you are likely eligible. You may also check your eligibility if your household makes less than a certain amount of money per month (125% of federal poverty guidelines). If you think you are eligible, go to a Notary with your ID and an adult witness who knows your financial situation and complete this form: https://www.lasc.org/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX8.0.pdf. You must complete all parts, even if it’s a $0 amount. Attach proof of your income and expenses and/or any award letters for benefits. Take your completed IFP form and your completed expungement packet and paperwork to the court and ask the judge to sign your IFP. They may set you for a later hearing date to go back for the signature. You can check your eligibility and begin completing the forms using JAC's IFP app available at: https://jacexpungement.app.law/ifp-affidavit-generator?access_key=weqdqpFWPWVjxwSLMpzJiz7AV

It will take sixty (60) days from the date of fling for all the agencies to respond to your request for an expungement. It may then take additional time for the Louisiana State Police to mail you a Certifcate of Compliance.

No. There are two kinds of pardons that restore certain rights differently. A first time offender is given a First Offender Pardon automatically in Louisiana (some crimes are excluded from eligibility). It does not prevent the State from using your record against you in the future, nor is your record sealed from public view. A First Offender Pardon will restore your civil rights, except for the right to bear arms. A new law went into effect August 1, 2019 that allows someone with a First Offender Pardon and NO convictions since the time it was awarded to be immediately eligible to expunge the felony record (state law usually requires 10 years waiting period). You must have a copy of your First Offender Pardon letter which you can get from your local Probation & Parole office. You should attend a JAC Expungement Workshop or contact an attorney to discuss your eligibility. Clemency, or a Governor’s Gold Seal Pardon, prevents your record from being used against you at a later time for subsequent convictions and returns you to the state you were in prior to arrest. It does not, however, seal the record from public view. Even if you have a Gold Seal Pardon, you must seek an expungement separately.