Criminal Records Annulment

The debate over whether New Hampshire should treat annulled records as sealed or unsealed has been a hot one in recent years.

Annulling or expunging a criminal record means that, in legal terms, an arrest or conviction is treated as though it never occurred. For example, the offense does not legally have to be revealed to potential employers, landlords and others inquiring whether a person has ever been convicted of a crime.

Annulment does not mean that records of a crime disappear from other public sources, such as news archives and the Internet. 

In states where annulled records are sealed, like New Hampshire, no mention of the arrest or conviction will appear on a person’s criminal or police record. However, details of the offense may still be viewed by law enforcement, prosecutors, or court personnel under specific circumstances, such as sentencing hearings for later crimes. They can also be requested under the state's right-to-know law. 

Other states keep annulled records public. The offense will still appear on a person’s record, but must be clearly marked as annulled or expunged.  

How to annull a criminal record in NH

To get a criminal record annulled in New Hampshire, you must apply to the court where you were initially convicted, or where your case was dismissed or otherwise resolved.

A judge may grant the annulment if he or she determines it “will assist in the petitioners rehabilitation and will be consistent with the public welfare”—a definition that leaves plenty of wiggle room for individual discretion.

Requests for annulment are also forwarded to the Department of Corrections, which conducts an investigation generally involving a review of your criminal history. The DOC will then issue a written recommendation to the court regarding the request. Prosecutors may also opt to weigh in.

Several conditions must be met before an annulment will be considered. Foremost is the amount of time that needs to pass since the offense took place—and during which the applicant has to have remained conviction-free.

• Arrest without conviction: immediately following closure of case
• Violation level offenses: 1 year
• Class B misdemeanor offenses committed after January 1, 2019: 2 years
• Class B misdemeanor offenses committed before January 1, 2019, and Class A misdemeanor offenses: 3 years
• Class B Felonies: 5 years
• Felony drug offenses and motor vehicle offenses covered by the state habitual offender law: 7 years (see a full list) 
• Class A Felonies or DWI offenses: 10 years

Additionally, you must have documentation showing that you have completed all the terms of your sentence.  A full checklist of other requirements for the application can be seen here. 

Each unique offense for which an individual was convicted is treated separately. For example: if you were involved in an incident which resulted in convictions for three different offenses, you must apply to annul each offense separately, even though they occurred on the same day.  

Some crimes are not eligible for annulment:

• Violent crimes such as assault, murder, rape, arson, and robbery.
• Obstruction of justice such as tampering with witnesses or evidence.

If a petition to annul is turned down, you must wait three years before applying again.

Changes in January 2019

It's easier to have minor offenses annuled if they were committed after January 1, 2019. For violations and class B misdemeanors committed after that date, the court must grant your request for an annulment after the waiting period is done, so long as you've completed all the terms of your sentence. Prosecutors have 20 days from when you file your petition for an annulment to object and show that some part of your sentence wasn't completed. If they fail to make the objection within that 20 day window, or the court rejects it, the annulment goes through.  

What happens after a criminal record annulment

Originally in New Hampshire, documents related to an annulled offense were sealed, effectively ‘erasing’ them from the public record. This applied to court records as well as police documentation. Gag orders prevented court officials and others from speaking about annulled records, and news organizations could face civil penalties for mentioning annulled crimes.

In 2011, the Legislature unsealed annulled records with HB 82. Instead of disappearing from an individual’s record, annulled arrests or convictions would still appear – just clearly labeled as “annulled”. The law also removed the potential for civil action against reporters who wrote about annulled offenses.

This move was essentially reversed by HB 450, passed in 2013. That law once again sealed records of annulled offenses, removing them from a person’s criminal record and limiting access to law enforcement personnel. It did not, however, reinstate the penalties for reporters.

However, in 2016, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that annulled criminal records weren't exempt from the state's right-to-know legislation. That means any member of the public can now file a request for access to an annulled criminal record.