What is the Difference Between Sealing and Expunging a Florida Record

In Florida, you can seal or expunge your Florida Criminal Record if you meet certain statutory requirements. You may be able to seal your the record if you were not convicted or adjudicated guilty of the crime. Either the court withheld adjudication, or you were found not guilty after a trial. If the State Attorney dropped the charges or declined to prosecute your Florida Criminal case, you may be able to expunge your Florida criminal arrest record.

If the Florida criminal record is sealed, each State and government agency that has a copy must seal the record and can only open it under strict circumstances that are set forth in Florida Statute Section 943.059. If the Florida criminal record is expunged, the records must be shredded. However, the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) will keep one copy on file pursuant to Florida Statute Section 943.0585.