Free Expungement Help in New York
Last reviewed: May 27, 2026
New York's Clean Slate Act is one of the newest in the country — it took effect November 16, 2024. If your conviction is old enough (3 years for misdemeanors, 8 years for felonies) and you've had no new convictions, your record may already be in the process of being sealed automatically. You don't need to file anything. The Legal Aid Society of NYC is the best resource in the city; Empire Justice covers upstate.
✅ Clean Slate / Automatic Sealing
Yes — the New York Clean Slate Act (CPL 160.57) took effect November 16, 2024 and automatically seals eligible misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years with no application, no fee, and no attorney needed.
How to get a fee waiver in New York
Clean Slate sealing is fee-free and automatic. CPL 160.59 motion-based sealing has a ~$95 motion fee; indigency waiver available on application.
Fee waivers (also called Affidavit of Indigency or In Forma Pauperis petition) are typically available if your household income is at or below 125–200% of the federal poverty level, or if you currently receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, or veterans benefits based on need.
Verified free legal aid organizations in New York
Every organization below is a verified non-profit or government-affiliated legal aid program. None are paid services. Always confirm your eligibility directly with the organization.
Free expungement help by city in New York
Free expungement resources vary significantly by metro area. Here's what's available in the largest cities, including clinic schedules and local contacts.
New York City (all five boroughs)
- Legal Aid Society of NYC
- Bronx Defenders
- Brooklyn Defender Services
- Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
Each NYC borough has a dedicated defender organization with reentry/sealing services. Legal Aid Society covers Manhattan and often all boroughs. For Clean Slate questions specifically, call the organization that represented you in the original case — they maintain your file.
Buffalo / Rochester / Upstate NY
- Empire Justice Center
- Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo
- Monroe County Public Defender's Office Reentry Unit
Empire Justice covers the entire upstate region and is the go-to for Clean Slate Act questions outside NYC. Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo covers Erie and Niagara counties. Monroe County's Public Defender Reentry Unit specifically handles sealing and Clean Slate applications in Rochester.
New York free expungement — frequently asked questions
How do I know if New York Clean Slate already sealed my record?
Request your own criminal history from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) through the New York State CRIM system. If the sealing has been processed, the sealed conviction will not appear on the public-access report. If you believe your record should be sealed and it isn't showing as sealed yet, contact the DCJS Office of Justice Research and Performance.
Does New York Clean Slate cover all convictions?
No. Violent felonies (as defined under PL 70.02), sex offenses requiring registration, terrorism-related offenses, and class A felonies are excluded. All other eligible convictions seal automatically after the waiting period.
More New York expungement resources
- Complete New York expungement guide → — eligibility, process, statutes, and timelines
- How much does expungement cost? (state-by-state)
- What shows up on a background check after expungement?
- ← All states: free expungement help directory