In Washington, you can vacate certain misdemeanor and felony convictions. Once vacated, it does not legally count as a conviction on any job application. Further, a “vacated” conviction should not appear on a Washington State Patrol background or an FBI background check.
Vacating your conviction is a powerful tool for cleaning up your past and protecting your future. To effectuate a vacation, the legal practitioner must comply with an intricate maze of hurdles and requirements. There are many exceptions and certain convictions can’t be vacated. Types of misdemeanors and classes of felonies are treated differently. Class A felonies are treated differently than Class B and Class C felonies. Domestic violence misdemeanors are treated differently than non-violent misdemeanors.
The law underwent reform in 2019 with the New Hope Act. It broadened availability for vacating convictions.