Maryland
Maryland Expungement Laws: Eligibility, Waiting Periods, and How to File (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 20, 2026. How we verify our legal content
Maryland allows people with qualifying arrests and convictions to petition for expungement under Md. Code, Criminal Procedure (CP) § 10-101 et seq., clearing records from public inspection and restoring access to jobs, housing, and licensing. A separate shielding remedy under CP § 10-301 et seq. applies to certain misdemeanor convictions that do not qualify for full expungement.
Information last verified on May 29, 2026. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed attorney.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Maryland state law only. For a nationwide comparison, see Expungement Laws by State.
Expungement vs. Shielding in Maryland
Maryland uses two distinct remedies, and the difference matters in practice.
Expungement under CP § 10-101 et seq. removes records from public inspection entirely. Law enforcement retains access only by court order. Records may be obliterated, transferred to a restricted repository, or stripped of any index that would allow access. Once expunged, a person generally need not disclose the charge or conviction to employers or government agencies under CP § 10-109.
Shielding under CP § 10-301 et seq. renders court and police records inaccessible to the general public but leaves them visible to criminal justice agencies, licensing boards with statutory authorization, and organizations screening employees or volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults under CP § 10-302. Shielding applies only to 12 specific misdemeanor offenses (see the shielding section below) and is limited to one petition per lifetime.
The practical rule: if your conviction appears on the CP § 10-110 eligibility list, pursue expungement. If your conviction appears on the CP § 10-301 shieldable list but not on the § 10-110 list, pursue shielding. Many convictions qualify for neither remedy.
Expungement of Non-Convictions (CP § 10-105)
Maryland law provides the broadest relief for cases that did not result in a conviction. Under CP § 10-105, a person may petition for expungement when charges resulted in any of the following dispositions:
- Acquittal at trial
- Dismissal
- Nolle prosequi (including nolle prosequi with treatment conditions)
- Probation before judgment (PBJ), except for certain traffic offenses
- Stet (indefinite postponement) or compromise under CL § 3-207
- Transfer to juvenile court under CP § 4-202 or § 4-202.2
Waiting period: A petition based on an acquittal, nolle prosequi, or dismissal may not be filed within 3 years after the disposition. For PBJ, the petition must wait until the later of discharge from probation or 3 years after the PBJ was entered. For a stet or compromise, the same 3-year period applies. A court may grant a petition earlier upon a showing of good cause.
Unit rule: Under CP § 10-107, if a person received multiple charges arising from the same incident, transaction, or set of facts (a "unit"), and one charge in the unit is ineligible for expungement, then no charge in that unit may be expunged.
Process: File the petition in the court where the proceedings originated. The State's Attorney must be served and has 30 days to object. If no timely objection is filed, the court may order expungement without a hearing. If the State's Attorney objects, the court holds a hearing.
Expungement of Convictions (CP § 10-110)
Maryland law permits expungement of certain convictions, but the eligible offense list is finite and waiting periods are longer than for non-convictions.
Eligible Misdemeanor Convictions
CP § 10-110(a)(1) lists an extensive catalog of misdemeanor violations across multiple code articles, including alcoholic beverages offenses, various business and criminal law misdemeanors, election law violations, and common law crimes such as affray, rioting, and battery. Theft and certain weapons offenses also appear on the list. Violations of CL § 5-601 (cannabis or controlled substance possession) are listed, but the statute expressly excludes "the use or possession of cannabis" from that subsection following the 2023 cannabis reforms described below.
Standard misdemeanor waiting period: 5 years after completion of the entire sentence, including any probation, parole, or mandatory supervision.
Battery (CL § 3-203): 7 years after sentence completion.
Domestically related crimes: 15 years after sentence completion.
Eligible Felony Convictions
The felony list under CP § 10-110(a)(2) is narrow:
- Theft (CL § 7-104)
- Possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (CL § 5-602)
- Burglary in the first degree (CL § 6-202(a))
- Burglary in the second degree (CL § 6-203)
- Burglary in the third degree (CL § 6-204)
Attempts, conspiracies, and solicitations of the above eligible offenses are also covered.
Standard felony waiting period: 7 years after sentence completion.
First and second degree burglary (CL § 6-202(a) and § 6-203) and felony theft (CL § 7-104): 10 years after sentence completion.
Cannabis possession with intent to distribute (CL § 5-602, cannabis-related): 3 years after sentence completion.
Court Procedure for Conviction Expungement
Petitions are filed in the court where the proceedings originated. The State's Attorney must be served, and crime victims listed in the case receive written notice with the right to submit information to the court within 30 days. The court may grant expungement without a hearing if no timely objection is raised. If an objection is filed, the court holds a hearing and evaluates factors including public safety risk, the petitioner's rehabilitation, and whether any restitution ordered has been paid.
Record Shielding for Misdemeanor Convictions (CP § 10-301 et seq.)
Shielding is a separate, narrower remedy for convictions that do not qualify for full expungement. Under CP § 10-301, the following 12 misdemeanor convictions are "shieldable":
- Disorderly conduct
- Disturbing the peace
- Failure to obey a lawful order
- Malicious destruction of property (lesser degree)
- Trespass on posted property
- Possession or administration of a controlled substance
- Possession or administration of a noncontrolled substance
- Possession or use of drug paraphernalia
- Driving without a license
- Driving with a suspended, revoked, or canceled privilege
- Driving while uninsured
- Prostitution (excluding assignation)
Waiting period: A shielding petition may not be filed earlier than 3 years after the person satisfies the sentence or sentences imposed, including all probation, parole, or mandatory supervision (CP § 10-303).
Disqualifications: A new criminal conviction during the waiting period bars the original conviction from shielding. Pending criminal proceedings also disqualify a petitioner. If one conviction in a unit is ineligible for shielding, all convictions in that unit are barred.
Lifetime limit: A person may be granted only one shielding petition over their lifetime (CP § 10-303).
Access to shielded records: Criminal justice agencies, employers with statutory screening authority, licensing boards, family court entities, health occupations boards, and organizations working with children retain access to shielded records under CP § 10-302. Domestically related crimes under CL § 6-233 are excluded from shielding entirely.
Cannabis Convictions and the 2023 Reforms
Maryland legalized adult-use cannabis effective July 1, 2023. The reforms created two forms of relief for cannabis conviction records.
Automatic removal from case search (CP § 10-111): The Maryland Judiciary Case Search may not display references to criminal cases where cannabis possession under CL § 5-601 was the sole charge and the charge was resolved before July 1, 2023. This is a restriction on public case-search display, not a formal expungement order, but it has practical effect for older possession cases.
Petition expungement for possession with intent to distribute: Convictions under CL § 5-602 involving cannabis distribution are now listed on the CP § 10-110 conviction expungement list with a reduced 3-year waiting period after sentence completion. This applies to individuals who completed their sentence and have waited the requisite time.
Civil cannabis violations: Violations involving possession of a personal-use or civil-use amount of cannabis are classified as civil offenses, not criminal convictions, under CL § 5-601.1. Records of these civil citations that are dismissed, result in acquittal, or are otherwise resolved without a finding of liability are removed from public inspection without a petition.
Individuals with cannabis-related records predating legalization should review their specific charge under both CP § 10-110 (for petition expungement) and CP § 10-111 (for case-search visibility) to determine which provision applies.
How to File a Maryland Expungement Petition
The general steps for filing under CP § 10-105 (non-conviction) or CP § 10-110 (conviction) are as follows:
- Identify the court of origin. File the petition in the court where the underlying proceedings were initiated. If the case was transferred or appealed, the petition goes to the court that handled the final disposition.
- Obtain and complete the petition form. The Maryland Courts Self-Help Center (mdcourts.gov) provides form CC-DC-CR-072, the Petition for Expungement of Records.
- Serve the State's Attorney. The petition must be served on the State's Attorney for the jurisdiction. The court will serve crime victims listed in the case file.
- Wait for the objection period. If no objection is filed within 30 days, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
- Attend a hearing if required. If the State's Attorney or a victim objects within 30 days, the court schedules a hearing.
- Court order and processing. After the court issues the expungement order, each agency holding records related to the case receives the order and must act on it. Full processing across all agencies can take several months.
Individuals who received a Governor's pardon for a conviction may also be eligible for expungement under a separate pathway and should consult the court in the jurisdiction where the conviction occurred.
Disclaimer: This article describes Maryland expungement and shielding law as of May 29, 2026, based on Md. Code, Criminal Procedure §§ 10-101 through 10-111 and §§ 10-301 through 10-303, and related Criminal Law Article provisions. Laws change; verify current eligibility requirements with the Maryland Courts or a licensed Maryland attorney before filing. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice.
Related Articles
- Expungement Laws by State. Compare expungement eligibility and waiting periods across all 50 states
- DUI Expungement by State: Which States Allow It?. State-by-state guide to expunging DUI convictions
- How to Check If Your Record Has Been Expunged. Steps to verify your expungement was processed correctly
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change. Consult a licensed Maryland attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
More Maryland Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I expunge my record in Maryland?
File a Petition for Expungement of Records (form CC-DC-CR-072) in the court where your case was resolved. Serve the State's Attorney. If no objection is filed within 30 days, the court may grant the petition. If you had a non-conviction disposition (dismissal, acquittal, nolle prosequi, or PBJ), the 3-year waiting period under CP § 10-105 must have passed. For a conviction, the waiting period under CP § 10-110 (5, 7, 10, or 15 years depending on offense) must have passed.
What is the Maryland expungement waiting period?
For non-convictions (dismissals, acquittals, nolle prosequi, PBJ), the wait is 3 years after the disposition under CP § 10-105. For convictions, waiting periods under CP § 10-110 are: 3 years for cannabis distribution, 5 years for most misdemeanors, 7 years for battery and most felonies, 10 years for first and second degree burglary and felony theft, and 15 years for domestically related crimes.
What does Maryland Criminal Procedure § 10-110 cover?
CP § 10-110 governs expungement of criminal convictions. It lists eligible misdemeanor and felony offenses, sets the waiting periods (3 to 15 years depending on the offense), establishes the petition and notice procedure, and authorizes courts to grant or deny petitions based on public safety, rehabilitation, and restitution factors.
What is the Maryland REDEEM Act?
The REDEEM Act is a 2023 Maryland law that reduced waiting periods for conviction expungement under CP § 10-110. It cut the standard misdemeanor wait from 10 years to 5 years and reduced felony waiting periods from 15 years to 7 or 10 years depending on the offense. The 2023 cannabis legalization legislation separately added cannabis distribution convictions to the eligible list with a 3-year wait. Together these reforms broadly expanded expungement access for Maryland residents with older convictions.
How long does it take to get an expungement in Maryland?
After filing, the State's Attorney has 30 days to object. If no objection is filed, the court may issue an order relatively quickly. If a hearing is required, scheduling adds additional time. After the court order issues, full processing across all agencies (courts, law enforcement, state repositories) typically takes several additional months. Budget 6 to 12 months from filing to complete record clearance.
Can I get a DUI expunged in Maryland?
A DUI conviction under CL § 21-902 is not listed as an eligible offense under CP § 10-110, so it cannot be expunged. However, if DUI charges resulted in a dismissal, acquittal, nolle prosequi, or PBJ (probation before judgment), those non-conviction dispositions are eligible for expungement after the waiting period under CP § 10-105. A PBJ for a DUI under § 21-902(a) or (b) has a 15-year waiting period.
What is the difference between expungement and shielding in Maryland?
Expungement removes records from public inspection entirely; law enforcement may only access them by court order. Shielding makes records inaccessible to the public but leaves them visible to criminal justice agencies, licensed employers, and organizations that work with vulnerable populations. Shielding applies only to 12 specific misdemeanors under CP § 10-301 and is limited to one petition per lifetime.
Does Maryland automatically expunge cannabis records?
Maryland does not issue formal automatic expungement orders for cannabis convictions, but CP § 10-111 directs that the Maryland Judiciary Case Search may not display cannabis possession cases under CL § 5-601 that were resolved before July 1, 2023. For cannabis distribution convictions under CL § 5-602, individuals must file a petition under CP § 10-110 after the 3-year waiting period expires.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
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Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Maryland Code, Criminal Law Article
§ 5-601In force
§5–601. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not: (1) possess or administer to another a controlled dangerous substance, unless: (i) obtained directly or by prescription or order from an authorized provider acting in the course of professional practice; or (ii) the controlled dangerous substance is cannabis, the individual is at least 21 years old, and the amount possessed is the personal use amount; or (2) obtain or attempt to obtain a controlled dangerous substance, or procure or attempt to procure the administration of a controlled dangerous substance by: (i) fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or subterfuge; (ii) the counterfeiting or alteration of a prescription or a written order; (iii) the concealment of a material fact; (iv) the use of a false name or address; (v) falsely assuming the title of or representing to be a manufacturer, distributor, or authorized provider; or (vi) making, issuing, or presenting a false or counterfeit prescription or written order. (b) Information that is communicated to a physician in an effort to obtain a controlled dangerous substance in violation of this section is not a privileged communication.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Cited in 9 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2024
Leading cases: Gorman v. State (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2006, 168 Md. App. 412) · Evans v. State (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2007, 174 Md. App. 549) · Martin v. State (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2007, 174 Md. App. 510)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 5-601.1In force
§5–601.1. (a) A police officer shall issue a citation to a person who the police officer has probable cause to believe has committed a violation of § 5–601 of this part involving the use or possession of the civil use amount of cannabis or the personal use amount of cannabis. (b) (1) A violation of § 5–601 of this part involving the use or possession of the civil use amount of cannabis or the personal use amount of cannabis is a civil offense. (2) Adjudication of a violation under § 5–601 of this part involving the use or possession of the civil use amount of cannabis or the personal use amount of cannabis: (i) is not a criminal conviction for any purpose; and (ii) does not impose any of the civil disabilities that may result from a criminal conviction.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Article
§ 10-101In force
§10–101. (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Central Repository” means the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository in the Department. (c) “Completion of the sentence” means the time when a sentence has expired, including any period of probation, parole, or mandatory supervision. (d) (1) “Court record” means an official record of a court that the clerk of a court or other court personnel keeps about: (i) a criminal proceeding; or (ii) any other proceeding, except a juvenile proceeding, concerning a civil offense or infraction enacted under State or local law as a substitute for a criminal charge. (2) “Court record” includes: (i) a record of a violation of the Transportation Article for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed; and (ii) an index, docket entry, charging document, pleading, memorandum, transcription of proceedings, electronic recording, order, and judgment. (e) “Expunge” means to remove information from public inspection in accordance with this subtitle.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Cited in 1 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2020
Leading cases: Robinson v. USA-2255 (District Court, D. Maryland 2020)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 10-104In force
§10–104. (a) Unless the State objects and shows cause why a record should not be expunged, if the State enters a nolle prosequi as to all charges in a criminal case within the jurisdiction of the District Court with which a defendant has not been served, the District Court may order expungement of each court record, police record, or other record that the State or a political subdivision of the State keeps as to the charges. (b) The District Court may not assess any costs against a defendant for a proceeding under subsection (a) of this section.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
§ 10-105In forcecited in 2 of our articles
§10–105. (a) A person who has been charged with the commission of a crime, including a violation of the Transportation Article for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed, or who has been charged with a civil offense or infraction, except a juvenile offense, may file a petition listing relevant facts for expungement of a police record, court record, or other record maintained by the State or a political subdivision of the State if: (1) the person is acquitted; (2) the charge is otherwise dismissed; (3) a probation before judgment is entered, unless the person is charged with a violation of § 21–902(c), (d), (h), or (i) of the Transportation Article or Title 2, Subtitle 5 or § 3–211 of the Criminal Law Article; (4) a nolle prosequi or nolle prosequi with the requirement of drug or alcohol treatment is entered; (5) the court indefinitely postpones trial of a criminal charge by marking the criminal charge “stet” or stet with the requirement of drug or alcohol abuse treatment on the docket; (6) the case is compromised under § 3–207 of the Criminal Law Article; (7) the charge was transferred to the juvenile court under § 4–202 of this article; (8) the person: (i) is…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Cited in 4 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2022
Leading cases: State v. Nelson (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2004, 156 Md. App. 558) · Expungement Petition of Vincent S. (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2022)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Maryland Court Records: How to Search, What's Public, and How to Seal Them
§ 10-107In force
§10–107. (a) (1) In this subtitle, if two or more charges, other than one for a minor traffic violation or possession of cannabis under § 5–601 of the Criminal Law Article, arise from the same incident, transaction, or set of facts, they are considered to be a unit. (2) A charge for a minor traffic violation or possession of cannabis under § 5–601 of the Criminal Law Article that arises from the same incident, transaction, or set of facts as a charge in the unit is not a part of the unit. (b) (1) If a person is not entitled to expungement of one charge or conviction in a unit, the person is not entitled to expungement of any other charge or conviction in the unit. (2) The disposition of a charge for a minor traffic violation that arises from the same incident, transaction, or set of facts as a charge in the unit does not affect any right to expungement of a charge or conviction in the unit.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Cited in 1 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2004
Leading cases: State v. Nelson (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2004, 156 Md. App. 558)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 10-108In force
§10–108. (a) A person may not open or review an expunged record or disclose to another person any information from that record without a court order from: (1) the court that ordered the record expunged; or (2) the District Court that has venue in the case of a police record expunged under § 10-103 of this subtitle. (b) A court may order the opening or review of an expunged record or the disclosure of information from that record: (1) after notice to the person whom the record concerns, a hearing, and the showing of good cause; or (2) on an ex parte order, as provided in subsection (c) of this section. (c) (1) The court may pass an ex parte order allowing access to an expunged record, without notice to the person who is the subject of that record, on a verified petition filed by a State’s Attorney alleging that: (i) the expunged record is needed by a law enforcement unit for a pending criminal investigation; and (ii) the investigation will be jeopardized or life or property will be endangered without immediate access to the expunged record. (2) In an ex parte order, the court may not allow a copy of the expunged record to be made.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
§ 10-109In force
§10–109. (a) (1) Disclosure of expunged information about criminal charges in an application, interview, or other means may not be required: (i) by an employer or educational institution of a person who applies for employment or admission; or (ii) by a unit, official, or employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State of a person who applies for a license, permit, registration, or governmental service. (2) A person need not refer to or give information concerning an expunged charge when answering a question concerning: (i) a criminal charge that did not result in a conviction; or (ii) a conviction that the Governor pardoned. (3) Refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for: (i) an employer to discharge or refuse to hire the person; or (ii) a unit, official, or employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State to deny the person’s application. (b) (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both for each violation.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Cited in 1 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2025
Leading cases: Murray (District Court, D. Maryland 2025)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 10-110In forcecited in 2 of our articles
§10–110. (a) A person may file a petition listing relevant facts for expungement of a police record, court record, or other record maintained by the State or a political subdivision of the State if the person is convicted of: (1) a misdemeanor that is a violation of: (i) § 6–320 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article; (ii) an offense listed in § 17–613(a) of the Business Occupations and Professions Article; (iii) § 5–712, § 19–304, § 19–308, or Title 5, Subtitle 6 or Subtitle 9 of the Business Regulation Article; (iv) § 3–1508 or § 10–402 of the Courts Article; (v) § 14–1915, § 14–2902, or § 14–2903 of the Commercial Law Article; (vi) § 5–211 of this article; (vii) § 3–203 or § 3–808 of the Criminal Law Article; (viii) § 5–601 not involving the use or possession of cannabis, § 5–602(b)(1), § 5–618, § 5–619, § 5–620, § 5–703, § 5–708, or § 5–902 of the Criminal Law Article; (ix) § 6–105, § 6–108, § 6–205 (fourth degree burglary), § 6–206, § 6–301, § 6–303, § 6–306, § 6–307, § 6–402, or § 6–503 of the Criminal Law Article; (x) § 7–104, § 7–203, § 7–205, § 7–304, § 7–308, or § 7–309 of the Criminal Law Article; (xi) § 8–103, § 8–106, § 8–204, § 8–206, § 8–401, §…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
Cited in 3 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2022
Leading cases: Expungement Petition of Vincent S. (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland 2022)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: How Long Does a Felony Stay on Your Record? (2026)
§ 10-111In force
§10–111. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search may not in any way refer to the existence of a criminal case in which: (1) possession of cannabis under § 5–601 of the Criminal Law Article is the only charge in the case; and (2) the charge was disposed of before July 1, 2023.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
§ 10-301In force
§10–301. (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Court record” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of this title. (c) “Criminal justice unit” has the meaning stated in § 10–201 of this title. (d) “Police record” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of this title. (e) “Shield” means to render a court record and police record relating to a conviction of a crime inaccessible by members of the public. (f) “Shieldable conviction” means a conviction of one of the following crimes: (1) disorderly conduct under § 10–201(c)(2) of the Criminal Law Article; (2) disturbing the peace under § 10–201(c)(4) of the Criminal Law Article; (3) failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order under § 10–201(c)(3) of the Criminal Law Article; (4) malicious destruction of property in the lesser degree under § 6–301 of the Criminal Law Article; (5) trespass on posted property under § 6–402 of the Criminal Law Article; (6) possessing or administering a controlled dangerous substance under § 5–601 of the Criminal Law Article; (7) possessing or administering a noncontrolled substance under § 5–618(a) of the Criminal Law Article; (8) use of or possession with intent…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
§ 10-302In force
§10–302. (a) This subtitle does not apply to a conviction of a domestically related crime under § 6–233 of this article. (b) A shielded record shall remain fully accessible by: (1) criminal justice units for legitimate criminal justice purposes; (2) prospective or current employers or government licensing agencies that are subject to a statutory or regulatory requirement or authorization to inquire into the criminal background of an applicant or employee for purposes of carrying out that requirement or authorization; (3) a person that is authorized or required to inquire into an individual’s criminal background under § 5–561(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of the Family Law Article; (4) the person who is the subject of the shielded record and that person’s attorney; (5) health occupations boards established under the Health Occupations Article; (6) the Natalie M.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
§ 10-303In forcecited in 2 of our articles
§10–303. (a) A person may petition the court to shield the person’s court and police records relating to one or more shieldable convictions entered in the circuit court or the District Court in one county no earlier than 3 years after the person satisfies the sentence or sentences imposed for all convictions for which shielding is requested, including parole, probation, or mandatory supervision. (b) (1) If the person is convicted of a new crime during the applicable time period set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the original conviction or convictions are not eligible for shielding unless the new conviction becomes eligible for shielding. (2) A person is not eligible for shielding if the person is a defendant in a pending criminal proceeding. (c) If a person is not eligible for shielding of one conviction in a unit, the person is not eligible for shielding of any other conviction in the unit. (d) (1) The court shall have a copy of a petition for shielding served on the State’s Attorney.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mgaleg.maryland.gov
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Sources and References
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-101(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-104(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-105(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-107(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-108(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-109(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-110(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-111(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-301(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-302(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 10-303(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Law § 5-601(mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- Md. Code, Criminal Law § 5-601.1(mgaleg.maryland.gov)