Sealing Criminal Records of Convictions for Victims of Sex Trafficking or Sexual Exploitation

This page describes how to have a criminal conviction sealed if you were a victim of sex trafficking or the crime of which you were convicted was a substantial result of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation.

On January 11, 2026 the Maine Legislature enacted legislation to permit the sealing of criminal records of a person who has been the victim of sex trafficking or sexual if:

• The person has been a victim of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation; and
• The commission of the crime(s) for which the person was convicted was a substantial result of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation.

Process of Filing a Motion

To start the process, file Form CR-307, Motion to Seal Conviction for Victims of Sex Trafficking or Sexual Exploitation with the clerk’s office for the court in which the conviction occurred. 

You may do this with the help of an attorney, or you may represent yourself (pro se). The State may be represented by a prosecutor from the office that handled the original case.

After the motion is filed, the clerk will schedule a hearing on the motion for hearing. 

If the prosecutor agrees to the motion, the court may grant the motion without holding the hearing. 

If a hearing is held, the court will review the requirements listed above and will grant the motion and order the conviction sealed if the person filing the motion has proven by a "preponderance of the evidence" (meaning "more likely than not") that each requirement has been met.

The person filing the motion and any witnesses may participate remotely (by Zoom or telephone), unless the court finds that you or a particular witness reside in Maine AND that in-person participation is required in the interests of justice.

What Documentation Must Be Presented?

Official documentation of a person's status as a victim of sexual exploitation or sex trafficking is not required.  However, if official documentation is presented, that documentation creates a presumption (meaning "strong likelihood for the court to rely on") that your participation in the crimes for which you were convicted was a substantial result of the sex trafficking or sexual exploitation.

Official documentation you may want to provide includes, but is not limited to, the following: 

1. A copy of an official record, certification or eligibility letter from a federal, state, tribal or local proceeding, including an approval notice or a certification generated from a federal immigration proceeding, that shows the person filing the motion was a victim of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation; 
2. An affidavit or sworn testimony from a member of the clergy, a medical professional, a staff member of a victim services organization or other professional from whom the person filing the motion has sought legal counsel or other assistance in addressing the trauma and other challenges associated with being a victim of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation; and/or  
3. Any other evidence the court determines is sufficiently believable and provides proof of your status.

If the motion is granted, and an order sealing conviction is issued, the court will send notice of the sealing to the State Bureau of Identification (the agency maintaining criminal history records for the State of Maine).  The State Bureau of Identification will then seal the conviction and send notice that this has been done to your last known address. 

What is "sealing"?

If your Maine criminal conviction is sealed under this process, it means that you may respond to inquiries from persons other than criminal justice agencies, the court, and other entities described in 15 M.R.S. § 2265 as if the conviction had not occurred. The record is not completely erased (Maine does not have "expungement"), but the record will not be disclosed to third parties, including employers, lenders, landlords, school admissions officers, and others.