Most are for old arrests, acquittals, or lowlevel convictions — not serious offenses. Employers, landlords, colleges and universities use background checks to screen out applicants with records – putting a meaningful second chance out of reach for many hard-working Mainers.
LD 1911 creates a smarter, fairer system to seal eligible arrest and conviction records once someone meets the requirements—helping thousands of Mainers move forward.
One in four adults in Maine—approximately 300,000 people—has an arrest or conviction record. These records often create lasting barriers to employment, housing, and education, even when the offense was minor or occurred years ago.
Most of these records are for low-level offenses, dismissed cases, or arrests that never led to a conviction. Yet they continue to show up in background checks—used by 94% of employers, 90% of landlords, and 72% of colleges nationwide.
LD 1911 creates an automated system to seal eligible criminal records—eliminating costly, complicated petition processes.
Key features:
Eligible for sealing:
LD 1911 focuses on low-level and non-violent records. It does not apply to serious or violent offenses.
Excluded categories include: