Expungement / Record Sealing Petition and Eligibility Memo — Nevada

Expungement / Record Sealing Petition and Eligibility Memo (NEVADA)

Quick-Reference Summary

Part A — Eligibility Memo

MEMORANDUM

To: [________________________________]
From: [________________________________], Nevada Bar No. [_____]
Date: [__/__/____]
Re: Eligibility for Record Sealing Under NRS 179.245 / 179.255 — [CLIENT NAME]

I. Executive Summary

This memorandum analyzes whether [CLIENT NAME] qualifies to seal Nevada criminal records under NRS Chapter 179. Nevada favors second chances (NRS 179.2405) and applies a rebuttable presumption in favor of sealing once the statutory waiting period has elapsed (NRS 179.2445). Sealed records continue to exist but are removed from public view; the petitioner may lawfully deny the underlying arrest or conviction in most contexts (NRS 179.285).

Bottom-line assessment: ☐ Eligible — petition recommended ☐ Eligible but waiting period not yet met ☐ Permanently ineligible (NRS 179.245(5))

II. Statutory Framework — NRS 179.245

Subsection (1): A person convicted of an offense may petition the court in which the person was convicted for the sealing of all records relating to the conviction after expiration of the applicable waiting period.

Subsection (5) — Permanently Ineligible: No record may be sealed for a conviction of:
(a) A crime against a child as defined in NRS 179D.0357;
(b) A sexual offense as defined in NRS 179.245(7) (rape, sexual assault, lewdness with minor, statutory sexual seduction, indecent exposure to minor, etc.);
(c) Felony DUI or DUI causing substantial bodily harm or death (NRS 484C.430, 484C.440);
(d) Home invasion (or related) involving a deadly weapon.

Subsection (2) — Waiting Periods (post-AB 36, 2023):

• 10 years: Category A felony; crime of violence (NRS 202.876); burglary (NRS 205.060)
• 7 years: Non-felony DUI; non-felony battery DV; Medicaid offenses (NRS 422.540–.570)
• 5 years: Category B, C, or D felony
• 2 years: Category E felony; gross misdemeanor; misdemeanor battery (NRS 200.481); harassment (NRS 200.571); stalking (NRS 200.575); violation of TPO/EPO
• 1 year: All other misdemeanors and traffic violations

The clock runs from the latest of: (i) date last fine paid; (ii) release from parole or probation; (iii) release from jail or prison; (iv) date all other court requirements completed.

Subsection (4) — Procedure: Petition is served on the prosecuting attorney and law enforcement agency involved. Either may object. Without objection, the court may grant the petition without hearing. With objection, a hearing is set; the rebuttable presumption favors sealing (NRS 179.2445).

NRS 179.255 — Non-Conviction Sealing: Records of acquittal, dismissal, or honorable discharge under NRS 453.3363 may be sealed with no waiting period. For charges where the prosecution declined to prosecute, the petitioner may seal after the statute of limitations has run, 8 years after the arrest, or by agreement of the parties.

III. Application to [CLIENT NAME]

IV. Categorically Ineligible Offenses (NRS 179.245(5), (7))

The following convictions cannot ever be sealed:

• ☐ Crime against a child (NRS 179D.0357) — includes lewdness with minor, child abuse, child pornography, luring, etc.
• ☐ Sexual offense (NRS 179.245(7)) — rape, sexual assault, statutory sexual seduction, incest, open or gross lewdness, indecent exposure to minor, etc.
• ☐ Felony DUI (NRS 484C.410)
• ☐ DUI causing substantial bodily harm or death (NRS 484C.430)
• ☐ DUI causing death of vulnerable person (NRS 484C.440)
• ☐ Home invasion involving a deadly weapon (NRS 205.067)

If any box is checked, the conviction is permanently NOT eligible. Only a Governor's pardon (NRS 213.020 et seq.) may provide relief.

V. Strategic Considerations

• Mixed petitions. A single petition can cover multiple cases if each has met its waiting period. "Minor moving or standing violations" that have not met the waiting period may be omitted from the petition (NRS 179.245(5)).
• SCOPE collection. Each police department's records must be sealed separately. Obtain SCOPE from every arresting agency: LVMPD, NLVPD, Henderson PD, Reno PD, Washoe County Sheriff, etc.
• Firearm rights. Sealing does not restore the right to bear arms (NRS 202.360). Only a Governor's pardon restores firearm rights. If firearm restoration is the goal, file pardon application instead (or in parallel).
• Voting, office, jury. Sealing restores voting rights, eligibility for office, and jury service immediately (NRS 179.285). (Note: AB 431 (2019) had already restored voting rights to all non-incarcerated Nevadans.)
• Limited-access exceptions. Sealed records remain visible to Gaming Control Board, Gaming Commission, Division of Insurance, prosecutors, NDPS Central Repository, Board of Pardons, and certain professional licensing boards (NRS 179.301; NRS 179.259). Advise clients in gaming, insurance, or healthcare licensing accordingly.
• Out-of-state agencies. Nevada sealing orders are not binding on out-of-state agencies; advise client that records may persist in databases outside Nevada.

VI. Conclusion

[CLIENT NAME] is ☐ eligible / ☐ ineligible to seal under NRS 179.245. Recommended next step: [________________________________________________].

Part B — Petition Template

Caption

In the [_____ Judicial] District Court of the State of Nevada, in and for the County of [_____________]
Case No.: [____________________________]
Dept. No.: [____________________________]

PETITION FOR SEALING OF RECORDS PURSUANT TO NRS 179.245

COMES NOW Petitioner, [DEFENDANT FULL LEGAL NAME], by and through [☐ self / ☐ counsel undersigned], and respectfully petitions this Honorable Court for an order sealing all records relating to the above-captioned case (and the records held by all law enforcement and criminal-justice agencies relating thereto) pursuant to NRS 179.245.

I. Petitioner Information

1. Full legal name: [_____________________________________________]
2. All other names used (aliases / maiden / prior): [_______________]
3. Date of birth: [__/__/____]
4. Social Security number (last 4): XXX-XX-[____]
5. Driver's license / ID number / state: [_____________________]
6. Current address: [_____________________________________________]
7. Telephone: [______________] Email: [_______________________]

II. Case Information

8. Case number(s): [_______________________________________________]
9. Charge(s) of conviction: [______________________________________]
10. Statute(s) of conviction: [____________________________________]
11. Date of conviction: [__/__/____]
12. Sentence imposed: [____________________________________________]
13. Date sentence completed / discharged from supervision / last fine paid: [__/__/____]

III. Statutory Eligibility

14. The offense(s) of conviction fall within the following NRS 179.245(2) category (check one):

☐ Misdemeanor or traffic violation — 1 year
☐ Gross misdemeanor; misdemeanor battery (NRS 200.481); harassment (NRS 200.571); stalking (NRS 200.575); TPO/EPO violation; or Cat. E felony — 2 years
☐ Cat. B, C, or D felony — 5 years
☐ Non-felony DUI; non-felony battery DV; Medicaid offense (NRS 422.540–.570) — 7 years
☐ Cat. A felony; crime of violence (NRS 202.876); burglary (NRS 205.060) — 10 years

15. The required waiting period has elapsed. The clock began on [__/__/____] (date of last fine paid / release from parole/probation / release from custody / completion of court requirements) and the applicable waiting period of [______ years] has run as of [__/__/____].

16. The offense is NOT on the permanent-ineligibility list of NRS 179.245(5) (crime against a child; sexual offense; felony DUI; DUI with SBH/death; home invasion with deadly weapon).

17. Petitioner has no pending criminal charges and no active warrants.

18. All court-ordered financial obligations (fines, fees, restitution, costs) have been paid in full.

19. Verified Nevada Criminal History (SCOPE) from each arresting agency is attached as Exhibit A.

20. State criminal history from the Nevada Department of Public Safety / Central Repository is attached as Exhibit B.

IV. Legal Basis

21. NRS 179.2405 establishes the public policy of Nevada favoring sealing of eligible criminal records to facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration.

22. NRS 179.2445 creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of sealing once the statutory waiting period is met and no statutory bar applies.

23. Upon entry of an order sealing the records, the proceedings shall be deemed never to have occurred, and Petitioner's civil rights to vote, hold office, and sit on a jury shall be restored under NRS 179.285.

V. Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully prays that this Honorable Court:

(a) Find that Petitioner has met all statutory requirements of NRS 179.245;
(b) Grant this Petition and enter the proposed Order Sealing Records;
(c) Direct the Clerk to transmit certified copies of the Order to the Nevada Central Repository, all law-enforcement and criminal-justice agencies identified in the SCOPE, and the prosecuting attorney's office pursuant to NRS 179.259;
(d) Restore to Petitioner all civil rights set forth in NRS 179.285; and
(e) Grant such other and further relief as is just and proper.

DATED this [____] day of [_____________], [______].

________________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME], Nevada Bar No. [_____]
[Firm / Address / Telephone / Email]
Attorney for Petitioner

— or —

________________________________________
[PETITIONER NAME], Pro Se
[Address / Telephone / Email]

VERIFICATION (NRS 53.045 / 15.010)

Under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Nevada, I declare that I have read the foregoing Petition and that the contents are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

________________________________________
[PETITIONER NAME], Date: [__/__/____]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on [__/__/____] I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition and proposed Order on:

• ☐ District Attorney, [_____________] County, at [address]
• ☐ City Attorney (if applicable), at [address]
• ☐ Arresting agency: [_____________________], at [address]
• ☐ Nevada Department of Public Safety, Central Repository, Carson City

by [☐ e-filing ☐ U.S. mail ☐ hand delivery ☐ email].

________________________________________
[Signature / Date]

Part C — Filing Checklist

Pre-Filing

• ☐ Confirm offense category under NRS 179.245(2) and applicable waiting period
• ☐ Confirm offense is NOT on NRS 179.245(5) permanent-ineligibility list
• ☐ Calculate waiting-period clock from latest of: last fine paid / release from supervision / release from custody / completion of court requirements
• ☐ Obtain Nevada Central Repository state criminal history (NDPS)
• ☐ Obtain SCOPE from EACH arresting agency where charges were incurred
• ☐ Verify all financial obligations paid (clerk's payment certification)
• ☐ Verify no active warrants and no pending criminal charges
• ☐ Decide on inclusion/omission of "minor moving or standing violations" (NRS 179.245(5))

Filing

• ☐ Draft Petition, Verification, and Proposed Order Sealing Records
• ☐ Attach SCOPE (Exhibit A) and NDPS state criminal history (Exhibit B)
• ☐ Attach clerk's certification of paid fines/costs
• ☐ E-file in court of conviction (or file in person in rural courts without e-filing)
• ☐ Pay filing fee or submit fee-waiver affidavit
• ☐ Serve copies on District Attorney, City Attorney (if applicable), arresting agency, NDPS Central Repository

Post-Filing

• ☐ Calendar response window (typically 21–30 days, depending on local rule)
• ☐ Monitor docket for objections from prosecuting attorney or law enforcement
• ☐ If unopposed, prepare to submit on the papers under NRS 179.2445 presumption
• ☐ If opposed, prepare for hearing — focus on rehabilitation evidence and statutory presumption
• ☐ Upon entry of Sealing Order:
• ☐ Obtain certified copies (multiple)
• ☐ Confirm Clerk transmits to Central Repository, arresting agencies, prosecuting agencies (NRS 179.259)
• ☐ Independently send certified copies to any private background-check vendors known to have client's record
• ☐ Advise client:
• ☐ May lawfully deny arrest/conviction in most contexts (NRS 179.285)
• ☐ Voting / office / jury rights restored
• ☐ Firearm rights NOT restored — pardon required (NRS 202.360)
• ☐ Limited-access exceptions: Gaming, insurance, licensing boards, prosecutors (NRS 179.301)
• ☐ Out-of-state databases may not honor the order

For NRS 179.255 (Non-Conviction) Cases

• ☐ Confirm acquittal, dismissal, or honorable discharge under NRS 453.3363
• ☐ No waiting period (immediate eligibility)
• ☐ For declined-to-prosecute charges, confirm SOL run, 8 years post-arrest, or stipulation

Sources and References

• NRS 179.245 (Sealing records after conviction): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html#NRS179Sec245
• NRS 179.255 (Sealing records after dismissal/acquittal): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html#NRS179Sec255
• NRS 179.2405 (Legislative policy): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html#NRS179Sec2405
• NRS 179.2445 (Rebuttable presumption in favor of sealing): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html#NRS179Sec2445
• NRS 179.285 (Effect of sealing — restoration of civil rights): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html#NRS179Sec285
• NRS 179.301 (Limited inspection by certain agencies): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html#NRS179Sec301
• NRS 202.360 (Firearm rights restored only by pardon): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-202.html#NRS202Sec360
• NRS Chapter 179 (full): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-179.html
• Nevada Records, Communications and Compliance Division — Sealing Criminal History Records: https://www.rccd.nv.gov/fees-forms/criminal-history-sealing-of-records/information-on-the-sealing-of-nevada-criminal-history-records/
• Nevada Legal Services — Five Things to Know About Sealing: https://nevadalegalservices.org/five-things-to-know-about-sealing-nevada-criminal-records/
• Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — Clean Slate Program / Eligibility Timelines: https://www.lacsn.org/practice-areas/consumer-rights-project/record-sealing
• Eighth Judicial District Court (Clark County) — Self-Help Center: https://selfhelp.clarkcountycourts.us/
• LVMPD Records & Fingerprint Bureau (SCOPE): https://www.lvmpd.com/about/bureaus/records-and-fingerprint-bureau/background-checks