Application to Expunge a Criminal Record

Expunging a criminal record before the period set by law has passed is done by submitting a pardon application to the President of the State. While at the end of the limitation and expungement periods the record is deleted automatically in the computer systems, an application to shorten these periods or for early expungement requires a reasoned request accompanied by recommendations and documents supporting the record holder's rehabilitation.

In this article we will review how a criminal record can be expunged before the end of the period, how to submit a pardon application, which arguments to present, which documents to attach and the options for early expungement.

Table of contents

• Criminal record expungement?
• How to expunge a criminal record
• Criminal record expungement application
• The criminal record expungement procedure?
• How should the application be worded?
• Criminal record expungement and limitation period
• Criminal record expungement price
• Criminal record expungement without a lawyer
• When should you consult a lawyer
• Criminal record expungement and the President of the State
• Sample letter requesting expungement of a criminal record
• FAQ about applying to expunge a criminal record

Criminal record expungement - in which cases can you apply?

You can apply to expunge a criminal record through a pardon application to the President of the State where the record seriously impairs normative functioning and causes real difficulty in continuing personal life, earning a living, studying or integrating into work. You can also apply to expunge a criminal record where approval is required for a particular position or licenses, where this can help the record holder's rehabilitation, and more.

How to expunge a criminal record - what routes are available?

In the case of a criminal record created following a criminal conviction in court, you can wait until the end of the limitation period and the expungement period, after which the record is expunged. Another route is to submit a pardon application to the President of the State to shorten or expunge it, in order to shorten these periods..

In the case of a police record – that is, a record of a file that did not end in a conviction – the file is recorded only when the grounds for closing it are not "lack of guilt". Thus, files closed for "lack of guilt" are closed and deleted immediately, while for files closed on other grounds (lack of public interest or insufficient evidence), the record can be cancelled by changing the grounds for closure or by submitting an application to cancel the criminal record. Another option is to wait several years until the file reaches its limitation period.

Application to expunge a criminal record - who do you submit it to?

To expunge a criminal record of a conviction before the period set by law has passed, you must submit a pardon application, which is forwarded through the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice to the President of the State. An application for administrative cancellation of a police record is submitted to the Criminal Information Section at Israel Police National Headquarters.

The criminal record expungement procedure - how is the application submitted?

The procedure for expunging a criminal record resulting from a conviction in court (as opposed to a police record of a closed file) is carried out by submitting a pardon application to the President of the State. The application is submitted to the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice, involves no fee, and is submitted only after all legal proceedings have ended.

What details should the application include?

The application must state the applicant's personal details, details of the files and convictions (according to a criminal information printout obtained from the police), details of the circumstances that led to the offense, and the grounds justifying the grant of a pardon today

Which documents are recommended to attach to the application?

It is recommended to attach supporting documents to an application to expunge a criminal record (for example, evidence of rehabilitation, studies, military or national service, and recommendations).

What arguments should be presented in the application?

In an application to expunge a criminal record, you must present arguments showing why it is needed. Among other things, you can refer to the time that has passed since the offense was committed and the sentence was served, which indicates normative behavior. In addition, you can present evidence of the record holder's rehabilitation and that they have not committed further offenses. Further arguments can address personal and family circumstances (for example, financial, medical or family hardship adversely affected by the criminal record), harm to livelihood and employment, and more.

How can rehabilitation and a change in circumstances be shown?

In an application to expunge a criminal record, it is worth presenting arguments and evidence supporting the record holder's rehabilitation and a change in circumstances. To do so, you can present documentation and evidence of stable employment, professional advancement or academic studies since the criminal incident, or submit positive recommendations from employers, managers or community figures attesting to the applicant's good character. In addition, you can present evidence of volunteering, social involvement and contribution to the community.

On the rehabilitation side, and where relevant, you can also submit confirmation of completing a treatment, rehabilitation or detox program – proving the change in the applicant's lifestyle.

In addition, it is possible and worthwhile to show how the criminal record harms the applicant's way of life and their personal and family circumstances, such as a difficult financial situation or medical and family crises that require the record to be cleared for the sake of making a living.

Sample application to expunge a criminal record - how should the application be worded?

Beyond the formal details that must be filled in as part of the application to expunge a criminal record, it is advisable to word the application in a way that takes full responsibility for the acts, without blaming others or trying to blur the lines. After that, you should set out your life circumstances, the hardship you were in when the offense was committed, the rehabilitation process and, beyond that, the urgent need for expungement. The need for expungement should include a practical explanation of how the record harms the applicant today, and should make clear why the application is justified.

How should the application open?

It is worth opening the application to expunge a criminal record by taking responsibility for past actions, without blaming others or blurring the facts, and then declaring a strong desire to rebuild your life and remove the employment and personal barrier.

How should the circumstances of the conviction and the time that has passed be presented?

To present the circumstances of the conviction and the time that has passed, you should set out the background to the incident in a focused, chronological way, emphasize the years that have passed without offenses and present documents proving that the applicant has been fully rehabilitated.

How should the need to expunge the record be explained?

To explain the need to expunge a criminal record, you should present the offense and the circumstances in which it was committed, the applicant's full rehabilitation, genuine remorse and details of how the conviction harms their way of life. It is worth emphasizing that it was a one-time incident that does not characterize the applicant's current way of life.

Expungement of a criminal record without a conviction - is an application required?

Ending criminal proceedings without a conviction does not leave a completely clean slate. The court's finding that the offense was committed, together with a community service order or probation order, is entered in the criminal register. However, in cases of non-conviction there is no limitation period, only an expungement period (usually lasting 5 years from the date of the decision). For early expungement of the record before the period has passed, a pardon application can be submitted to the President of the State.

Application to expunge a criminal record in special cases

Expungement of a criminal record in special cases is carried out through dedicated channels, in accordance with legislation over the years. Thus, for example, for minors, Ethiopian immigrants, soldiers and reservists, there are different tracks and special forms of relief.

Expungement of a criminal record in the army

Soldiers in regular service who accumulated a criminal past before enlisting can apply to a special committee headed by the Chief Education and Youth Officer. The committee examines their performance and forwards its recommendation to the President of the State. Where soldiers accumulated convictions during their service, the criminal record depends on the severity of the offense and the sentence. In their case, a pardon application can be submitted to the President of the State to reduce the sentence or expunge the record, or an application for relief can be made to the Chief of Staff under his authority pursuant to the Military Justice Law.

Expungement of a criminal record for reservists

Following the "Swords of Iron" war that broke out in October 2023, the President of the State, together with the Minister of Justice, launched a special pardon track. Reservists are entitled to a lenient, dedicated track for expunging a criminal record. This track was created as part of a special pardon program of the President of the State and the Minister of Justice, with the aim of recognizing the contribution of IDF soldiers following the Swords of Iron war.

Expungement of a cannabis criminal record

In recent years there has been a change in the approach to cannabis offenses, so that personal use or possession offenses are considered administrative rather than criminal offenses. The approach has also changed toward those who have a criminal past for these offenses, and they enjoy significant relief when applying for expungement, especially those with no other criminal past.

Expungement of criminal records for Ethiopian immigrants

The Expungement of Criminal and Police Records of Ethiopian Immigrants Law, 5784-2024, provides that criminal and police records for public order offenses committed by Ethiopian immigrants up to the end of 2020 will be expunged automatically – without submitting an application. The law was born following various reports (by the Ministry of Justice and the State Comptroller's Office) that pointed to a phenomenon of over-policing of the community.

Expungement of criminal records for minors

The limitation and expungement periods of a criminal record for minors are significantly shorter than for adults, with the aim of enabling rehabilitation and ensuring their integration into society. To shorten the limitation and expungement periods, a pardon application must be submitted to the President of the State, who may order early expungement of convictions in special cases.

Expungement of a domestic violence criminal record

Domestic violence offenses are considered offenses with the highest level of public interest, and as a result the policy on closing such files, and certainly on expunging them, is particularly strict. In cases of conviction, an application can be submitted to the President of the State, but significant rehabilitation must be proven unequivocally.

In cases of a police record following mutual complaints or tactical false complaints made to gain a legal advantage, the record remains in place where the grounds for closure are not "lack of guilt", so you must apply to change the grounds so that the record is deleted.

Expungement of a criminal record to obtain a firearms license

A criminal record is a major barrier to obtaining a firearms license in Israel and can even lead to the revocation of an existing license. You can submit a pardon application to the President of the State to shorten the expungement period. The President will consider the applicant's personal circumstances, the time that has passed, the severity of the offense, the rehabilitation process they have undergone and the specific need for the license.

Criminal record expungement and limitation period

Under the Criminal Information Law, expungement of a criminal record in Israel takes place in two main stages: the limitation period followed by the expungement period. The limitation period begins on the date of the judgment and lasts several years, depending on the severity of the offense and the sentence imposed on the offender. After this period, the expungement period begins, during which the number of bodies with access to the criminal record is reduced. The expungement period also depends on the severity of the offense and the sentence, and after it ends the record is not completely deleted from the police database; rather, access to it is restricted to a certain number of bodies only.

Criminal record expungement price - how much does handling the application cost?

Anyone can submit an application to expunge a criminal record on their own; pardon applications and applications to the police/State Attorney's Office are exempt from government fees. An experienced, professional criminal lawyer can help present the arguments and grounds and prove the need to expunge the criminal record, and their fee varies according to the complexity of the case and the lawyer's experience and expertise.

Criminal record expungement cost - what affects the cost?

The cost of expunging a criminal record in Israel is affected mainly by the legal fees for representation. There is a significant difference between applying to the police to change the grounds for closure or cancel a police record (closed file) and drafting a comprehensive, reasoned pardon application to the President of the State to expunge a criminal conviction.

Criminal record expungement without a lawyer - can you apply on your own?

Anyone can apply on their own to expunge or cancel a criminal or police record without the help of a lawyer. However, in some cases this is a complex procedure that requires presenting arguments, grounds and evidence, so the chances of success increase with legal representation.

When should you consult a criminal record expungement lawyer?

It is worth consulting a lawyer about applying to expunge a criminal record when the record harms your quality of life, your chances of earning a living and advancing and, in general, your personal life. A criminal record is a stain that harms your ability to move forward, so if there is an option, it is worth taking steps to expunge it. This is especially true for a criminal record resulting from a conviction, where a pardon application to the President of the State is required. A skilled lawyer will know how to present the arguments and grounds properly and help get the application accepted.

Criminal record expungement and the President of the State - when can a pardon application be submitted?

A pardon application to the President of the State to expunge a criminal record can be submitted only once all legal proceedings in the case have been exhausted and the judgment has become final. There is no mandatory waiting period from the date of the trial, but the application is usually considered according to the degree of rehabilitation, so it is sometimes advisable to wait in order to show the change for the better.

Who may submit the application?

A pardon application to the President of the State to expunge a criminal record may be submitted by the convicted person, a lawyer on their behalf or a first-degree relative. The application must be made with the knowledge and consent of the convicted person.

In what circumstances can you ask to shorten the expungement periods?

You can ask to shorten the expungement period in circumstances where the record harms employment and livelihood, where there are special personal and family circumstances, or where the convicted person has undergone a proven rehabilitation process.

Sample letter requesting expungement of a criminal record

An application to expunge a criminal record will include accurate personal details, the nature of the case and arguments showing rehabilitation. It is necessary to express remorse, take responsibility for past criminal acts and present the applicant as someone who leads a normative life, which the record harms or prevents.

FAQ about applying to expunge a criminal record

How can I check my criminal record with the Israel Police?

To check your criminal record, you must go in person to one of the police stations and exercise the "right of inspection" granted by Israeli law. "The citizen may receive at the police station a printout of criminal information for their personal review only (the law prohibits employers from requiring or receiving this printout).

After how long is a criminal record expunged?

A criminal record goes through two stages until it is expunged, a process that can take as long as 17 years (depending on the severity of the offense and the sentence). The first stage is the limitation stage, followed by the expungement period. At the end of these periods, the circle of those with access to the offender's criminal information is significantly reduced, but the record is not physically "deleted" from the databases.

Does submitting an application to expunge a criminal record guarantee that the record will be expunged?

No. Submitting an application to expunge a criminal record does not guarantee that the record will be shortened or expunged. The decision is at the sole discretion of the authorized officials - the President of the State in the case of a pardon, or the Israel Police in other cases.

Can you apply to expunge several convictions in the same application?

It is permitted, and even common, to submit a combined application covering several files, records or convictions in the same application. It is important to remember to attach all the supporting documents and details for all the files.

Are there documents that can strengthen the application?

Yes, definitely. Documents showing personal and medical circumstances, and documents showing the offender's rehabilitation and change in way of life – all of these can speak in their favor. In addition, letters of support and recommendation from employers or professionals who have witnessed the change and rehabilitation can be attached.

Can employment status be relevant to the application?

Employment status is highly relevant to an application to expunge a criminal record. The officials handling such applications consider personal circumstances and evidence of rehabilitation, so it is a key tool for proving a normative way of life.

Can military service, reserve duty or volunteering be relevant to the application?

Yes, military service, reserve duty and volunteering are highly and directly relevant to applications to expunge a criminal record. The state encourages contribution to society and security and sees this as a clear indication of rehabilitation.

Can another application be submitted if the first one was rejected?

Definitely. Another application to expunge or cancel a criminal record can be submitted even if the first one was rejected. However, it is advisable to do so only if there has been a significant change that can be shown, and it is preferable to wait a few months in order to present new supporting documents.

Can another person submit the application on behalf of the record holder?

Yes, another person can submit an application to expunge a criminal record on behalf of the record holder, but only a lawyer holding a power of attorney and, in certain cases, a first-degree relative. The record holder must be aware of and want the application to be submitted.

What happens after an application to expunge a criminal record is submitted?

After an application to expunge a criminal record is submitted, the file is passed on for review by the authorized officials (the Israel Police or the Ministry of Justice), depending on the type of record. The application is examined according to the circumstances and the various criteria, and a reply is sent to the applicant after a period of several months.

This information does not replace legal representation or advice.