Sealing is for cases that never produced a conviction; expungement is for cases that did. If your charge was dismissed, the grand jury returned a no true bill, the prosecutor filed a no information, you were found not guilty, or you completed a one-year filing without a violation, the record is sealed under R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-1-12, and there is no waiting period. If you were convicted or placed on probation, the record must be expunged under Chapter 12-1.3 after its 5, 10, or 15 year waiting period. For employers and landlords the effect is nearly identical. A case with both dismissed and convicted counts often needs both motions.
