2C:52-5.3 "Clean slate" expungement by petition.

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7. "Clean slate" expungement by petition. a. A person, who is not otherwise eligible to present an expungement application pursuant to any other section of chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes or other section of law, may present an expungement application to the Superior Court pursuant to this section if the person has been convicted of one or more crimes, one or more disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offenses, one or more municipal violations, or a combination of one or more crimes, offenses, or violations under the laws of this State, unless the person has a conviction for a crime which is not subject to expungement pursuant to subsection b. or c. of N.J.S.2C:52-2.

The person may present an application pursuant to this section regardless of whether the person would otherwise be ineligible pursuant to subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:52-14 for having had a previous criminal conviction expunged, or due to having been granted an expungement pursuant to this or any other provision of law.

b. The person, if eligible, may present the expungement application after the expiration of a period of ten years from the date of the person's most recent conviction, payment of any court-ordered financial assessment, satisfactory completion of probation or parole, or release from incarceration, whichever is later. The term "court-ordered financial assessment" as used herein and throughout this section means and includes any fine, fee, penalty, restitution, and other form of financial assessment imposed by the court as part of the sentence for the conviction or convictions that are the subject of the application, for which payment of restitution takes precedence in accordance with chapter 46 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

The person shall submit the expungement application to the Superior Court in the county in which the person resides or a county in which one or more of the person's convictions were adjudged, which includes a duly verified petition as provided in N.J.S.2C:52-7 praying that all the person's convictions, and all records and information pertaining thereto, be expunged. The petition appended to an application shall comply with the requirements set forth in N.J.S.2C:52-1 et seq.

(1)Notwithstanding the provisions concerning the ten-year time requirement, if, at the time of application, a court-ordered financial assessment subject to collection under the comprehensive enforcement program established pursuant to P.L.1995, c.9 (C.2B:19-1 et al.) is not yet satisfied due to reasons other than willful noncompliance, but the time requirement of ten years is otherwise satisfied, the person may submit the expungement application and the court shall grant an expungement in accordance with this section; provided, however, that at the time of the expungement the court shall enter a civil judgment for the unpaid portion of the court-ordered financial assessment in the name of the Treasurer, State of New Jersey and transfer collection and disbursement responsibility to the State Treasurer for the outstanding amount in accordance with section 8 of P.L.2017, c.244 (C.2C:52-23.1). The Treasurer may specify, and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall collaborate with, the technical and informational standards required to effectuate the transfer of the collection and disbursement responsibilities. Notwithstanding any provision in this law or any other law to the contrary, the court shall have sole discretion to amend the judgment.

(2)Additionally, an application may be filed and presented, and the court shall grant an expungement pursuant to this section, although less than ten years have expired in accordance with the time requirements when the court finds that the court-ordered financial assessment is satisfied but less than ten years have expired from the date of satisfaction, the ten-year time requirement is otherwise satisfied, and the court finds that the person substantially complied with any payment plan ordered pursuant to N.J.S.2C:46-1 et seq. or could not do so due to compelling circumstances affecting the person's ability to satisfy the assessment. In determining whether compelling circumstances exist for the purposes of this paragraph, a court may consider any relevant information provided by the person submitting the application and the prosecutor, including the amount of any court-ordered financial assessment imposed, the person's age at the time of the offense or offenses, the person's financial condition, and other relevant circumstances regarding the person's ability to pay. However, regarding a determination of compelling circumstances pursuant to this paragraph, the person shall not be required to provide transcripts of plea or sentencing proceedings or be required to provide any presentence reports with the application or any other filing.

d. No expungement applications may be filed pursuant to this section after the establishment of the automated "clean slate" process pursuant to subsection a. of section 8 of P.L.2019, c.269 (C.2C:52-5.4).

L.2019, c.269, s.7; amended 2023, c.260, s.3.