What is the process called that erases or limits the public availability of arrest and conviction records?

The process that erases or limits the public availability of arrest and conviction records is known as expungement. Expungement refers specifically to the legal procedure through which an individual's criminal record is either completely erased or made inaccessible to the public. This means that, after expungement, the records of the arrest or conviction are treated as if they never occurred, allowing an individual to move forward without the stigma associated with having a criminal record.

While sealing records is a related concept, it typically means that records still exist but are not accessible to the public. In contrast to expungement, sealing does not erase the record but restricts access. The terms destruction and amnesty do not apply in this context; destruction refers to physically disposing of records, while amnesty is a governmental pardon that may not necessarily affect public records. Therefore, expungement accurately describes the process involved in eliminating or limiting public access to arrest and conviction records.