Congress should create a comprehensive expungement process for federal offenses. The laboratory of the states offers several strong models, and Senator Rand Paul’s REDEEM Act of 2017 (Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act) provides one template for reference. Any such act should allow for expungement of records by petition for at least juvenile offenses (which are rare in the federal system), non-violent crimes, and other categories to be determined. Expungement would be managed by the federal courts and would include hearings and processes for prosecutors and interested parties to inform courts about matters relevant to the expungement decision.
Who would benefit from a federal expungement system?
A standardized federal expungement system would transform the lives of millions of Americans including individuals with records, their families, their communities, and the businesses that would benefit from their full participation in society. A clear system would offer a clear, consistent path forward for people who have taken responsibility, served their time, and are ready to rebuild.
This is a movement for anyone who has ever been impacted by the justice system. Together, we can shift outcomes for entire generations. When we come together, openly, honestly, and without isolation, we harness the power of community. And with that, we can build a future where second chances aren’t the exception, they’re the standard.
The REDEEM Act of 2017
The REDEEM Act was introduced in the Senate on April 5, 2017, by Senator Rand Paul with Senator Cory Booker, as S. 827 in the 115th Congress. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The bill’s stated purpose is “to provide for the sealing or expungement of records relating to Federal nonviolent criminal offenses.” Check congress.gov for the bill’s full legislative history.
According to the introduced text, the bill:
- Lets an adult petition a federal court to seal a record of a covered nonviolent offense one year after finishing every term of the sentence, with a hearing within 180 days.
- Excludes crimes of violence and sex offenses, and limits eligibility by the number and type of prior felony convictions.
- Seals juvenile nonviolent records automatically three years after the person completes probation, detention, or supervision, with an option to petition earlier.
- Requires the Attorney General to move for expungement of certain nonviolent offenses committed before age 15, and lets a person petition for expungement of nonviolent offenses committed at or after age 15.
Other bills have been introduced since, such as the Clean Slate Act of 2025 (H.R. 3114), which proposes automatic and petition-based sealing of certain federal records.
Where the law stands today
Federal law has no general expungement authority for lawful convictions, and courts disagree on whether they hold any equitable power to expunge. What Is Federal Expungement? lays out the statutes and the court decisions. The reasons for acting now are on Why Now, and the story of Babz Rawls Ivy shows what a federal record costs.