New Jersey Clean Slate Act Attorneys
Last updated: May 2026
New Jersey enacted the Clean Slate Act (S-4154) in December 2019, with the petition pathway effective June 15, 2020. Codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3, the law allows a petitioner with one or more eligible convictions to seek expungement of the entire New Jersey criminal record after 10 years from the most recent conviction, payment of all fines and fees, and completion of all custodial, parole, and probation terms. The Act also directed the Administrative Office of the Courts to design an automated clean-slate process; the automated component remains under development.
Who qualifies for clean-slate relief
A petitioner qualifies if: at least 10 years have passed since the most recent conviction, payment of fine, or release from incarceration / parole / probation (whichever is latest); all financial obligations have been satisfied; and none of the convictions falls within the statutory bar list under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(b) (murder, kidnapping, most sex offenses, robbery, and other excluded offenses). A single ineligible conviction generally prevents a clean-slate petition, though the petitioner may still be able to use other expungement pathways for specific cases.
How the clean-slate petition works
A clean-slate petition under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3 is filed in the Superior Court — Law Division of the county where the most recent conviction occurred. The Verified Petition must list every New Jersey case the petitioner is asking the court to expunge. The County Prosecutor, the New Jersey Attorney General, the State Police Expungement Unit, the arresting agencies, and each affected municipal court must be served. The court typically schedules a hearing 35 to 60 days after filing; uncontested clean-slate petitions are often granted on the papers.
Automated clean-slate processing
The Clean Slate Act also directs the courts to build an automated system that identifies and clears eligible records without requiring a petition. That automated component was still being implemented as of the most recent legislative updates. Until automated processing is fully operational, the petition pathway under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3 is the way to obtain clean-slate relief.
Why a New Jersey attorney can help
Clean-slate petitions are technically complex because they cover every case on the petitioner's record. The attorney can pull certified dispositions for every charge across every county, confirm none falls within the N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(b) bar list, calculate the 10-year period correctly, draft the Verified Petition, serve every required agency, and represent the petitioner if the County Prosecutor objects.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Clean Slate Act different from a regular expungement?
A regular expungement targets specific cases. A Clean Slate petition under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3 asks the court to expunge the entire New Jersey criminal record after a 10-year conviction-free period. The waiting period is longer than for most regular expungements, but the relief is broader.
What if I have one disqualifying conviction?
A conviction on the N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(b) bar list generally prevents clean-slate relief. The petitioner may still qualify for case-by-case expungement of other eligible matters. A New Jersey expungement attorney can confirm which pathway fits your record.
Is automated clean-slate processing live?
The petition pathway under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3 has been live since June 15, 2020. The fully automated processing component directed by the Act remains under implementation by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
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