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Having a juvenile criminal record can impact one’s ability to obtain employment, housing, and other benefits, even decades after a conviction. Since 2013 the Public Defender’s office of Hamilton County has provided legal assistance to get criminal and juvenile records sealed and expunged.

If you or someone you know has a criminal or juvenile record, preventing employment, housing or other benefits, the Hamilton County Defender’s office may be able to help. They offer an expungement clinic on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month.

The clinic is located at 125 East Court Street on the 9th floor. These meetings are by appointment only. You can schedule an appointment online for your preferred clinic date. You will then receive a confirmation call you on the Monday or Tuesday of the week of your appointment. You’ll have 3 chances to confirm before your spot is released. During the phone call your financial eligibility for waving expungement fees will also be assessed. Expungement fees are usually $50.

Alternatively you can call between the hours of 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM on the clinic date you plan to attend. Appointments are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. The appointment line is (513) 946-3666. Appointments are held between 1 PM and 4 PM that same day, for those who have scheduled.

Prior to your appointment you need to go to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to obtain a copy of your current police record. The Sheriff’s Office is located at the Hamilton County Justice Center, 1000 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The cost to obtain that record is $5, and must be paid in cash.

There is an Expungement Clinic Flyer to download and share with others, available in both English and Spanish. More detailed information can be found on the Expungement Clinic Page of the Hamilton County Defender’s Office website, which include information about what types of offenses can be expunged and what types can not.

Please note: The expungement services only apply to records generated in Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati. If you have a criminal record outside of Hamilton County, you will need to seek separate services to address the records within that jurisdiction.

Also, time limitations apply. You must be prompt arriving for your scheduled appointment at the clinic. It is also recommended that you come alone due to limited seating. For further details call their 24 hour information line at (513) 946-3711.

You can find more legal aid resources by selecting the “Legal Aid” option from the dropdown tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.