Nevada Record Sealing Law

NRS 179.245 Sealing records after conviction: Persons eligible; petition; notice; hearing; order.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 and NRS 176A.265, 179.259 and 453.3365, a person may
petition the court in which he was convicted for the sealing of all records relating to a conviction of:
(a) A category A or B felony after 15 years from the date of his release from actual custody or discharge from
parole or probation, whichever occurs later;
(b) A category C or D felony after 12 years from the date of his release from actual custody or discharge from
parole or probation, whichever occurs later;
(c) A category E felony after 7 years from the date of his release from actual custody or discharge from parole or
probation, whichever occurs later;
(d) Any gross misdemeanor after 7 years from the date of his release from actual custody or discharge from
probation, whichever occurs later;
(e) A violation of NRS 484.379 other than a felony, or a battery which constitutes domestic violence pursuant to
NRS 33.018 other than a felony, after 7 years from the date of his release from actual custody or from the date when
he is no longer under a suspended sentence, whichever occurs later; or
(f) Any other misdemeanor after 2 years from the date of his release from actual custody or from the date when
he is no longer under a suspended sentence, whichever occurs later.
2. A petition filed pursuant to subsection 1 must:
(a) Be accompanied by current, verified records of the petitioner’s criminal history received from:
(1) The Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History; and
(2) The local law enforcement agency of the city or county in which the conviction was entered;
(b) Include a list of any other public or private agency, company, official or other custodian of records that is
reasonably known to the petitioner to have possession of records of the conviction and to whom the order to seal
records, if issued, will be directed; and
(c) Include information that, to the best knowledge and belief of the petitioner, accurately and completely
identifies the records to be sealed.
3. Upon receiving a petition pursuant to this section, the court shall notify the law enforcement agency that
arrested the petitioner for the crime and:
(a) If the person was convicted in a district court or Justice Court, the prosecuting attorney for the county; or
(b) If the person was convicted in a municipal court, the prosecuting attorney for the city.
The prosecuting attorney and any person having relevant evidence may testify and present evidence at the hearing
on the petition.
4. If, after the hearing, the court finds that, in the period prescribed in subsection 1, the petitioner has not been
charged with any offense for which the charges are pending or convicted of any offense, except for minor moving or
standing traffic violations, the court may order sealed all records of the conviction which are in the custody of the
court, of another court in the State of Nevada or of a public or private agency, company or official in the State of
Nevada, and may also order all such criminal identification records of the petitioner returned to the file of the court
where the proceeding was commenced from, including, but not limited to, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
California Bureau of Identification and Information, sheriffs’ offices and all other law enforcement agencies
reasonably known by either the petitioner or the court to have possession of such records.
5. A person may not petition the court to seal records relating to a conviction of a crime against a child or a
sexual offense.
6. If the court grants a petition for the sealing of records pursuant to this section, upon the request of the person
whose records are sealed, the court may order sealed all records of the civil proceeding in which the records were
sealed.
7. As used in this section:
(a) “Crime against a child” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 179D.210.
(b) “Sexual offense” means:
(1) Murder of the first degree committed in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of sexual assault or of
sexual abuse or sexual molestation of a child less than 14 years of age pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of
NRS 200.030.
(2) Sexual assault pursuant to NRS 200.366.
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(3) Statutory sexual seduction pursuant to NRS 200.368, if punishable as a felony.
(4) Battery with intent to commit sexual assault pursuant to NRS 200.400.
(5) An offense involving the administration of a drug to another person with the intent to enable or assist the
commission of a felony pursuant to NRS 200.405, if the felony is an offense listed in this paragraph.
(6) An offense involving the administration of a controlled substance to another person with the intent to
enable or assist the commission of a crime of violence pursuant to NRS 200.408, if the crime of violence is an
offense listed in this paragraph.
(7) Abuse of a child pursuant to NRS 200.508, if the abuse involved sexual abuse or sexual exploitation.
(8) An offense involving pornography and a minor pursuant to NRS 200.710 to 200.730, inclusive.
(9) Incest pursuant to NRS 201.180.
(10) Solicitation of a minor to engage in acts constituting the infamous crime against nature pursuant to
NRS 201.195.
(11) Open or gross lewdness pursuant to NRS 201.210, if punishable as a felony.
(12) Indecent or obscene exposure pursuant to NRS 201.220, if punishable as a felony.
(13) Lewdness with a child pursuant to NRS 201.230.
(14) Sexual penetration of a dead human body pursuant to NRS 201.450.
(15) Luring a child or mentally ill person pursuant to NRS 201.560, if punishable as a felony.
(16) An attempt to commit an offense listed in subparagraphs (1) to (15), inclusive.
NRS 179.255 Sealing records after dismissal or acquittal: Petition; notice; hearing; order.
1. If a person has been arrested for alleged criminal conduct and the charges are dismissed or such person is
acquitted of the charges, the person may petition:
(a) The court in which the charges were dismissed, at any time after the date the charges were dismissed; or
(b) The court in which the acquittal was entered, at any time after the date of the acquittal,
for the sealing of all records relating to the arrest and the proceedings leading to the dismissal or acquittal.
2. A petition filed pursuant to this section must:
(a) Be accompanied by a current, verified record of the criminal history of the petitioner received from the local
law enforcement agency of the city or county in which the petitioner appeared in court;
(b) Include a list of any other public or private agency, company, official and other custodian of records that is
reasonably known to the petitioner to have possession of records of the arrest and of the proceedings leading to the
dismissal or acquittal and to whom the order to seal records, if issued, will be directed; and
(c) Include information that, to the best knowledge and belief of the petitioner, accurately and completely
identifies the records to be sealed.
3. Upon receiving a petition pursuant to this section, the court shall notify the law enforcement agency that
arrested the petitioner for the crime and:
(a) If the charges were dismissed or the acquittal was entered in a district court or Justice Court, the prosecuting
attorney for the county; or
(b) If the charges were dismissed or the acquittal was entered in a municipal court, the prosecuting attorney for
the city.
The prosecuting attorney and any person having relevant evidence may testify and present evidence at the hearing
on the petition.
4. If, after the hearing, the court finds that there has been an acquittal or that the charges were dismissed and
there is no evidence that further action will be brought against the person, the court may order sealed all records of
the arrest and of the proceedings leading to the acquittal or dismissal which are in the custody of the court, of
another court in the State of Nevada or of a public or private company, agency or official in the State of Nevada.
NRS 179.259 Sealing records after completion of program for reentry: Persons eligible; procedure;
order; inspection of sealed records by professional licensing board.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3 and 4, 5 years after an eligible person completes a program for
reentry, the court may order sealed all documents, papers and exhibits in the eligible person’s record, minute book
entries and entries on dockets, and other documents relating to the case in the custody of such other agencies and
officers as are named in the court’s order. The court may order those records sealed without a hearing unless the
Division of Parole and Probation of the Department of Public Safety petitions the court, for good cause shown, not
to seal the records and requests a hearing thereon.
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2. If the court orders sealed the record of an eligible person, the court shall send a copy of the order to each
agency or officer named in the order. Each such agency or officer shall notify the court in writing of its compliance
with the order.
3. A professional licensing board is entitled, for the purpose of determining suitability for a license or liability to
discipline for misconduct, to inspect and to copy from a record sealed pursuant to this section.
4. A person may not petition the court to seal records relating to a conviction of a crime against a child or a
sexual offense.
5. As used in this section:
(a) “Crime against a child” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 179D.210.
(b) “Eligible person” means a person who has:
(1) Successfully completed a program for reentry to which he participated in pursuant to NRS 209.4886,
209.4888, 213.625 or 213.632; and
(2) Been convicted of a single offense which was punishable as a felony and which did not involve the use
or threatened use of force or violence against the victim. For the purposes of this subparagraph, multiple convictions
for an offense punishable as a felony shall be deemed to constitute a single offense if those offenses arose out of the
same transaction or occurrence.
(c) “Program for reentry” means:
(1) A correctional program for reentry of offenders and parolees into the community that is established by
the Director of the Department of Corrections pursuant to NRS 209.4887; or
(2) A judicial program for reentry of offenders and parolees into the community that is established in a
judicial district pursuant to NRS 209.4883.
(d) “Sexual offense” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (b) of subsection 7 of NRS 179.245.
NRS 179.265 Rehearings after denial of petition: Time for; number.
1. A person whose petition is denied under NRS 179.245 or 179.255 may petition for a rehearing not sooner
than 2 years after the denial of the previous petition.
2. No person may petition for more than two rehearings.
NRS 179.275 Order sealing records: Distribution to Central Repository and persons named in order;
compliance. Where the court orders the sealing of a record pursuant to NRS 176A.265, 179.245, 179.255, 179.259
or 453.3365, a copy of the order must be sent to:
1. The Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History; and
2. Each public or private company, agency or official named in the order, and that person shall seal the records
in his custody which relate to the matters contained in the order, shall advise the court of his compliance, and shall
then seal the order.
NRS 179.285 Order sealing records: Effect; proceedings deemed never to have occurred; restoration of
civil rights. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 179.301:
1. If the court orders a record sealed pursuant to NRS 176A.265, 179.245, 179.255, 179.259 or 453.3365:
(a) All proceedings recounted in the record are deemed never to have occurred, and the person to whom the
order pertains may properly answer accordingly to any inquiry, including, without limitation, an inquiry relating to
an application for employment, concerning the arrest, conviction, dismissal or acquittal and the events and
proceedings relating to the arrest, conviction, dismissal or acquittal.
(b) The person is immediately restored to the following civil rights if his civil rights previously have not been
restored:
(1) The right to vote;
(2) The right to hold office; and
(3) The right to serve on a jury.
2. Upon the sealing of his records, a person who is restored to his civil rights must be given an official
document which demonstrates that he has been restored to the civil rights set forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 1.
3. A person who has had his records sealed in this State or any other state and whose official documentation of
the restoration of his civil rights is lost, damaged or destroyed may file a written request with a court of competent
jurisdiction to restore his civil rights pursuant to this section. Upon verification that the person has had his records
sealed, the court shall issue an order restoring the person to the civil rights to vote, to hold office and to serve on a
jury. A person must not be required to pay a fee to receive such an order.
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4. A person who has had his records sealed in this State or any other state may present official documentation
that he has been restored to his civil rights or a court order restoring his civil rights as proof that he has been restored
to the right to vote, to hold office and to serve as a juror.
NRS 179.295 Reopening of sealed records.
1. The person who is the subject of the records that are sealed pursuant to NRS 176A.265, 179.245, 179.255,
179.259 or 453.3365 may petition the court that ordered the records sealed to permit inspection of the records by a
person named in the petition, and the court may order such inspection. Except as otherwise provided in this section
and NRS 179.259 and 179.301, the court may not order the inspection of the records under any other circumstances.
2. If a person has been arrested, the charges have been dismissed and the records of the arrest have been sealed,
the court may order the inspection of the records by a prosecuting attorney upon a showing that as a result of newly
discovered evidence, the person has been arrested for the same or similar offense and that there is sufficient
evidence reasonably to conclude that he will stand trial for the offense.
3. The court may, upon the application of a prosecuting attorney or an attorney representing a defendant in a
criminal action, order an inspection of such records for the purpose of obtaining information relating to persons who
were involved in the incident recorded.
4. This section does not prohibit a court form considering a conviction for which records have been sealed
pursuant to NRS 176A.265, 179.245, 179.255, 179.259 or 453.3365 in determining whether to grant a petition
pursuant to NRS 176A.265, 179.245, 179.255, 179.259 or 453.3365 for a conviction of another offense.
NRS 179.301 Inspection of sealed records by certain agencies.
1. The State Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission and their employees, agents and
representatives may inquire into and inspect any records sealed pursuant to NRS 179.245 or 179.255, if the event or
conviction was related to gaming, to determine the suitability or qualifications of any person to hold a state gaming
license, manufacturer’s, seller’s or distributor’s license or registration as a gaming employee pursuant to chapter 463
of NRS. Events and convictions, if any, which are the subject of an order sealing records:
(a) May form the basis for recommendation, denial or revocation of those licenses.
(b) Must not form the basis for denial or rejection of a gaming work permit unless the event or conviction relates
to the applicant’s suitability or qualifications to hold the work permit.
2. A prosecuting attorney may inquire into and inspect any records sealed pursuant to NRS 179.245 or 179.255
if:
(a) The records relate to a violation or alleged violation of NRS 202.575; and
(b) The person who is the subject of the records has been arrested or issued a citation for violating NRS 202.575.
3. The Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History and its employees may inquire into and
inspect any records sealed pursuant to NRS 179.245 or 179.255 that constitute information relating to sexual
offenses, and may notify employers of the information in accordance with NRS 179A.180 to 179A.240, inclusive.
4. Records which have been sealed pursuant to NRS 179.245 or 179.255 and which are retained in the statewide
registry established pursuant to NRS 179B.200 may be inspected pursuant to chapter 179B of NRS by an officer or
employee of the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History or a law enforcement officer in the
regular course of his duties.
5. As used in this section:
(a) “Information relating to sexual offenses” means information contained in or concerning a record of criminal
history, or the records of criminal history of the United States or another state, relating in any way to a sexual
offense.
(b) “Sexual offense” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 179A.073.