What is the legal meaning of "expungement"?

The legal meaning of "expungement" refers to the process of permanently erasing or sealing a criminal record. This action effectively removes the record from public view, allowing individuals who have had their records expunged to move forward without the stigma of past criminal charges potentially affecting their opportunities, such as employment, housing, or education.

Expungement does not merely involve reviewing a criminal record for errors, transferring a case to a different jurisdiction, or amending legal charges in court. While there may be other legal processes associated with records and charges, they do not encapsulate the specific and definitive action of expunging a record, which provides individuals a legal means to eliminate the lasting impacts of their past offenses.