1.    A petition to seal a criminal record must be filed in the existing criminal case for the offense.

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Terms Used In North Dakota Code 12-60.1-03

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Pardon: means the removal of punishment or custody imposed upon a person for the commission of an offense. See North Dakota Code 12-55.1-01
  • Rule: includes regulation. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • seal: includes an impression of such seal upon the paper alone as well as upon wax or a wafer affixed thereto. See North Dakota Code 1-01-38
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

2.    Subject to redaction requirements in rule 3.4 of the North Dakota Rules of Court, a petition must include:

a.    The petitioner’s full name and all other legal names or aliases the petitioner has used at any time; b.    The petitioner’s addresses from the date of the offense until the date of the petition; c.    Reasons why the petition should be granted; d.    The petitioner’s criminal history in this state and any other state, federal court, and foreign country, including:

(1) All prior and pending criminal charges; (2) All prior and pending charges for which an imposition of sentence has been deferred or stayed, or which have been continued for dismissal; and

     (3) All prior requests by the petitioner with authorities in this state or another state or federal forum for pardon, return of arrest records, expungement, or sealing of a criminal record, whether granted or not.

3.    The petitioner shall file a proposed order when filing a petition to seal a criminal record.

4.    A petition filed under this section must be served upon the prosecuting official as provided by rule 49 of the North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure.