Anyone with a closed Harris County misdemeanor or felony case can register for a free screening. The screening process determines which records are eligible to be sealed under Texas law.

Fresh Start Record Screening and Sealing is held four times a year at the Harris County Jury Plaza, 1201 Congress St. in downtown Houston. For upcoming dates, go to www.ccl.hctx.net/FreshStart.htm. Online registration is required.

Fresh Start is offered by the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law and BAYOU City Community Court in partnership with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, Harris County Criminal District Courts, Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, and Harris County Constable Precinct 1.

Texas law provides two ways to seal a criminal record:

• Nondisclosure seals your criminal record from public view. ¬You don’t have to disclose it publicly – on job or housing applications, for example – but certain state and federal agencies can still see it.
• Expunction completely erases the arrest or charge. This is only available for charges that have been dismissed, no-billed by a grand jury, or ended in a not-guilty verdict at trial.

Even if a case is dismissed, the arrest or charge can still appear on your record. A criminal record can make it harder to get a job, rent an apartment, get into college, access financial aid, or obtain professional licenses. Sealing your record can help remove these barriers. When people can meet their basic needs and build stable lives, it reduces the likelihood of repeat offenses and helps create safer, stronger communities.

Go to www.ccl.hctx.net/FreshStart.htm and click the “REGISTRATION” button. From there, you’ll answer two quick eligibility questions. If you qualify, you’ll be taken to the registration form, which you must complete and submit.

Registration opens at noon on designated days tied to each event. For upcoming dates, go to www.ccl.hctx.net/FreshStart.htm.

Space is limited: Each event has 400 screening slots.

Very fast. Demand is extremely high. More than 2,000 people often try to register for just 400 seats, which means registration can fill up within seconds of opening. Be ready to sign up right at noon.

Yes! Sign up for Fresh Start email and text reminders here: https://bit.ly/FreshStartAlerts.

If you register successfully, you will get a confirmation number and confirmation email. Print or save this information, as you may need it to access services. If you do not get a confirmation number, your registration did not go through. You’ll need to try again at a future event.

Your results will be emailed to you no later than the week of the Fresh Start event. Be sure to list your email address correctly and check your inbox and junk mail folders. If you have not received an update by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the event, email FreshStart@ccl.hctx.net. (Note: Requests sent before this time won’t be processed.)

No. We don’t have a waiting list or don’t allow walk-ins.

No. Registration is only available online at the designated time.

No. Email and text updates are separate from event registration. You must register to be screened.

The registration form is only open at noon on registration days. You won’t be able to access it before then. If you try early, you will see a message explaining that registration isn’t open yet. For upcoming dates, go to www.ccl.hctx.net/FreshStart.htm.

Demand for Fresh Start Record Screening and Sealing is extremely high. More than 2,000 people often compete for just 400 screening slots, and they can fill within seconds. If you see a message saying registration is full, it is not an error. It means all spots are taken, and you will need to try again next time. Find upcoming dates: FreshStart@ccl.hctx.net.

Eligibility is determined by state law. Specific requirements and mandatory waiting periods vary significantly depending on the criminal charge. After you register, Fresh Start legal partners will review your Harris County criminal records over the next two weeks to determine eligibility. If you are not eligible under state law, Fresh Start cannot admit you into the program.

No. You must register online to have your records screened.

No. Eligibility is determined by Texas state law. If you are not legally eligible, your records cannot be sealed.

Yes. Certain charges cannot be expunged or sealed, no matter how long ago they occurred. In Texas, eligibility is based on the disposition of the case, and each case must be reviewed to determine eligibility.

Yes. You must attend the corresponding Fresh Start in-person to receive record sealing services.

No. Fresh Start only reviews Harris County criminal records. Records from other counties and states don’t qualify for this program.

No. Active cases cannot be sealed. Criminal records cannot be sealed until the case is closed and any mandatory waiting periods are completed.

If you participated in a previous Fresh Start event, any eligible records are being handled by our legal partners. You will receive an email when your case is assigned to a case handler — usually within 90 days. After your case is assigned, the court process begins and typically takes another 90 days. You will receive another email when the process is complete. If it has been more than 180 days and you have not received an update, please email FreshStart@ccl.hctx.net.

If your question isn’t covered here, you can email FreshStart@ccl.hctx.net. Please include your name and specific questions in the email. You will receive a response within three business days. Note: If your question is already answered in the FAQs, you may not receive an individualized response.

Yes. If you can’t attend Fresh Start, you can access self-help legal resources at www.clearyourrecordharriscounty.org and www.texaslawhelp.org. You can also look for similar record sealing events held by other community organizations.