If you were previously told you were ineligible for expungement in New Jersey because you had more than one felony conviction, we have good news: the law has changed. You may now be eligible to expunge your most recent felony conviction, even if you have a prior felony on your record.

At National Security Law Firm, we’ve been helping clients take advantage of this powerful change in the law. If you’re seeking a fresh start, read on for a detailed breakdown of how New Jersey’s expungement statute has evolved, what the courts have said, and how you can qualify.

What Changed: The 2019 Clean Slate Reform

Before the 2019 reform, N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(a) barred expungement relief for anyone with more than one felony conviction. The statute required that a petitioner have been convicted of only one crime and have no prior or subsequent conviction for another crime. This language categorically excluded anyone with multiple indictable convictions — even if they had turned their life around decades ago.

But in December 2019, the Legislature enacted sweeping reforms through P.L. 2019, c.269, often referred to as the Clean Slate law. One of the most critical changes was a subtle but powerful edit:

The words “any prior or subsequent” conviction were revised to say only “any subsequent” conviction.

They also added the following clarifying sentence:

“Subject to the provisions of subsection e. of N.J.S.A. 2C:52-14 requiring denial of an expungement petition when a person has had a previous criminal conviction expunged, a prior conviction for another crime shall not bar presenting an application seeking expungement relief for the criminal conviction that is the subject of the application.”

The statute now expressly permits individuals to expunge one felony conviction even if an older felony remains on their record.

Why This Is a Big Deal

Under the old rules, someone with two felony convictions — say, one in 2000 and another in 2010 — could not expunge either. It was an all-or-nothing situation. The new law gives these individuals a meaningful chance to clear the conviction that is currently holding them back, without being punished forever for past mistakes.

It’s important to understand, however, that this is not a blanket amnesty. There are still limitations, and the law must be carefully navigated. Here’s how it works.

The New Expungement Framework: Key Requirements

To expunge your most recent felony conviction under the new law, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. The felony you seek to expunge must be your most recent criminal conviction.
  2. You must not have any subsequent conviction for another crime or disorderly persons/petty disorderly persons offense.
  3. You must satisfy the applicable waiting period (typically 5 years from the latest of conviction, completion of sentence, or payment of fines; or 4 years under the early pathway with compelling circumstances).
  4. The crime must not be one of the offenses categorically barred from expungement under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2(b) or (c) (e.g., homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault).
  5. You must not have previously had a criminal conviction expunged under this traditional process. (Note: Clean Slate expungement is a separate option not counted toward this bar.)

If you meet these conditions, you are likely eligible to have your latest felony conviction expunged, even if an earlier felony conviction remains on your record.

You Must Expunge in Reverse Chronological Order

Here’s the catch: you cannot expunge the older felony until you deal with the more recent one.

Let’s say:

  • You were convicted of felony A in 2002
  • And felony B in 2012

You can expunge felony B (the 2012 conviction), because it is your most recent offense, and the prior 2002 conviction is no longer a bar.

But you cannot expunge felony A (2002) while felony B (2012) is still on your record. Why?

  • Because felony B is a subsequent conviction, which still bars expungement of an earlier conviction under the law.

This “newest-first” requirement ensures that expungement proceeds in chronological order. You have to clear the newest case before you can address older ones.

What About Expunging Both Felonies?

If you’re hoping to clear both convictions, you may be able to — but only if you qualify under the Clean Slate expungement provision found in N.J.S.A. 2C:52-5.3. That provision allows someone to expunge their entire record (excluding certain serious crimes) 10 years after their last conviction, completion of sentence, or payment of fines.

Here’s how it works:

  • First, expunge the most recent conviction under the new 2C:52-2(a) rules.
  • Then, once 10 years have passed from the date of that expunged conviction (or sentence/fines), you may apply for Clean Slate to wipe out the rest — including the older felony.

Be careful though: you only get one traditional expungement under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2. If you expunge a felony today, you cannot later go back and try to expunge the older one separately. You’ll have to rely on Clean Slate (or a pardon) to address the rest.

Supporting Case Law: In re T.O. (2021)

The New Jersey Supreme Court acknowledged these statutory changes in In re T.O., 244 N.J. 514 (2021). While the case itself was about whether a gubernatorial pardon could eliminate an expungement bar (the Court said yes), it took time to emphasize how the 2019 legislative amendments eliminated the “prior conviction” barrier:

“By removing the words ‘any prior,’ the Legislature opened the door to applicants who had previously been ineligible for expungement because of an earlier conviction.”

Though the T.O. Court did not apply the new law retroactively (since the petition had been filed in 2018), the opinion shows clear judicial recognition of the amendment’s purpose: to expand expungement eligibility.

Real-World Example

Let’s walk through a sample case:

Client Profile:

  • Felony conviction #1: Drug distribution, 2005
  • Felony conviction #2: Theft by deception, 2014
  • No other offenses since 2014
  • Completed sentence and fines by 2017

Old Law: Ineligible — more than one felony

New Law:

  • Eligible to expunge the 2014 theft conviction (it’s the most recent)
  • Must wait 5 years from sentence/fines (2017 + 5 = 2022)
  • Can apply today to clear 2014 case
  • The 2005 case remains on record for now
  • After 10 years from 2017 (so in 2027), client may apply for Clean Slate to wipe the rest

Clear, Predictable Pricing

At National Security Law Firm, we believe everyone deserves a second chance — without surprise fees. That’s why we keep our pricing transparent:

  • $1,500 for your primary offense

  • +$200 for each additional offense

  • +$1,800 for early expungements or drug distribution cases

👉 See our detailed expungement pricing guide.

Start Now, Pay Over Time

Cost shouldn’t stop you from moving forward. Through Affirm, we offer flexible financing so you can start today and spread payments out:

  • Terms of 3, 6, 12, or 24 months

  • Checking eligibility won’t affect your credit score

  • Example: A $1,500 expungement = just $65/month

👉 Explore your financing options here.

Our Refund Guarantee

We’re the only New Jersey expungement firm that backs our work with a money-back guarantee.

  • If your expungement is denied for reasons outside your control, we refund your fee in full.

  • ⚠️ This guarantee applies only to our legal fee, not the outcome.

  • If you fail to disclose your full criminal history, the guarantee does not apply.

Why We’re Different — And Why That Matters

Most firms stop once the judge signs your expungement order. But errors are common:

  • 25–30% of agencies don’t update their databases correctly.

  • Private background check companies aren’t notified at all.

That’s why NSLF built a proprietary follow-up system:

  • We verify removal with state and local agencies.

  • We confirm compliance with the NJSP and FBI.

  • We directly notify private background check companies like Checkr, TruthFinder, and Sterling.

  • We provide lifetime cleanup support if your record ever resurfaces.

👉 Read how we fix the problems other firms ignore.

Expedited Expungements — Faster Relief

New Jersey expungements often take close to a year. But now, thanks to a 2025 legal settlement, eligible clients can request expedited NJSP processing if filed correctly up front.

We offer a premium expedited filing service that gets you the fastest possible result — perfect if you need your record cleared for a job, license, or housing application.

👉 Learn more about expedited expungements.

Why Choose NSLF?

When it comes to expungements in New Jersey, no firm matches our results:

  • More expungements statewide than any other law firm

  • Proprietary follow-up process to fix government and private database errors

  • Lifetime record cleanup, included free

  • Flat, all-inclusive pricing and flexible financing options

  • A money-back refund guarantee for peace of mind

  • Every case handled by Karen Howell, Esq. — one of New Jersey’s most trusted expungement lawyers

👉 Visit our Expungement Information Hub for the most complete library of guides and resources in New Jersey.

We’re Trusted With More Expungements in New Jersey Than Any Other Law Firm.

Don’t Wait — Start Today

Every day your record lingers is another day you risk losing out on work, housing, or peace of mind. Take control now.

👉 Book your free consultation today.

Our Clients Say It Best

With hundreds of 5-star reviews, we’re proud to be one of the most trusted expungement law firms in New Jersey.

👉 See our Google Reviews here.

⚡ We don’t just file expungements. We erase your record everywhere it matters.