Hennepin Co. Attorney: Some juvenile convictions now eligible for expungement

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Those convicted of crimes as juveniles in Hennepin County can now apply to have their records sealed or expunged.

MN youth case expungement initiative

What we know:

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the prosecutor-led expungement program expanded to include juvenile offenses. 

Crimes that could be eligible for expungement include minor drug offenses, theft, damage to property and forgery.

Criminal sexual conduct, domestic violence, and gun cases, including BB gun and replica gun cases, are not eligible for prosecutor-led expungement, according to a news release from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. 

Hennepin County is the first jurisdiction to undertake such an initiative, Moriarty said. 

There are also waiting periods for juvenile cases to be eligible for prosecutor-led expungement. Hennepin County officials said those waiting periods are as follows:

• For cases dismissed/acquitted = no waiting period
• For cases resolved with diversion, or stays of adjudication, or that were continued without prosecution = 1 year with no adjudication or conviction
• For misdemeanor cases = 1 year with no adjudication or conviction
• For gross misdemeanor cases = 2 years with no adjudication or conviction
• For eligible felony cases = 3 years with no adjudication or conviction

This follows the Minnesota Clean Slate Act that passed years earlier and went into effect at the beginning of 2025.

READ MORE: ‘Free expungement clinic’ will help Minnesotans clear non-violent offenses from record

What they're saying:

"A child should not be defined by a mistake, which is what we see in many of the cases eligible for expungement," Moriarty said. "For instance, we know that a single act of drug possession is not indicative of a child's character for that child's potential."

The county attorney pointed out that such records can continue to impact someone's eligibility for jobs, housing and pursuit of a higher education. 

"Expungements allow for records to be sealed, which essentially removes it from a person's criminal record," Moriarty said. "Youth expungements allow us to ensure that we have accountability while also allowing for growth and second chances. To date, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office has received 800 requests for youth expungements. We have reviewed over 230 expungement requests, and filed an average of 20 expungement motions in het past two months." 

How to have a record sealed

What you can do:

An online portal was established by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office to help people seal their records without any filing fees or court appearances. Juvenile offenders can now apply through the same portal. 

That portal can be found by clicking here. 

HelpSealMyRecord.org was initially launched by the Ramsey and Washington County Attorney’s Office in 2019 but became a statewide initiative the following year.