In Washington, what term refers to the process that takes a conviction off the record, allowing a person to deny having a criminal record?

In Washington, the term that refers to the process of taking a conviction off the record, allowing a person to deny having a criminal record, is known as vacating. When a conviction is vacated, it is essentially nullified, and the individual can legally assert that they have not been convicted of that crime. This process not only removes the conviction from their public record but also restores certain civil rights that may have been affected.

Vacating a conviction has specific legal criteria and procedures that must be followed, including a waiting period and meeting certain eligibility requirements, which often depend on the nature of the offense and the individual's behavior since the conviction. This distinction is important because it provides a pathway for rehabilitation, helping individuals reintegrate into society without the burden of a criminal record.

Other terms such as sealing, expunging, and restricting have specific meanings and implications, particularly in different jurisdictions, but in Washington, they do not convey the same legal process that vacating does, especially in terms of allowing someone to deny a prior conviction. For instance, while sealing may limit public access to records, it does not necessarily allow for the denial of a conviction.