---
title: "How long does a felony stay on your record in Rhode Island?"
description: "A Rhode Island felony conviction is permanent unless you actively remove it. Under Rhode Island's expungement statute, a single non-violent felony conviction is typically eligible for expungement ten..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/how-long-does-a-felony-stay-on-your-record-in-rhode-island/
date: 2026-04-15
modified: 2026-04-29
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# How long does a felony stay on your record in Rhode Island?

A Rhode Island felony conviction is permanent unless you actively remove it. Under Rhode Island's expungement statute, a single non-violent felony conviction is typically eligible for expungement ten years after the completion of your sentence (including parole and probation), with no intervening convictions during that period.

Several categories of felonies are **not expungeable** under Rhode Island law:

- Violent felonies as defined in R.I.G.L. 11-47-2(14)

- Most sex offenses

- Felonies carrying a life maximum

- Certain firearms offenses

If you have multiple felony convictions, expungement options narrow significantly and often require a gubernatorial pardon through the Rhode Island Parole Board.

While the conviction remains on your record, it shows up on:

- Every criminal background check

- BCI reports

- Firearms purchase checks

- Housing applications

- Employment screenings

- Professional licensing board reviews

A felony conviction also costs you Second Amendment rights, voting rights while incarcerated, and, for non-citizens, almost always triggers removal proceedings regardless of how long you've been in the U.S.

The only guaranteed way to keep a felony off your record permanently is to prevent the conviction at the front end. Bank & Munns fights every felony case from that posture: our job is to prevent the record from ever existing.