About
As the largest
university-based local
government training,
advisory, and research
organization in the United
States, the School of
Government serves more
than 12,000 public officials
each year.
Browse by Role
The School provides
content and resources for a
wide array of local
government and judicial
officials in North Carolina.
Select your role to explore
all related content.
Local and State Government
Courts and Judicial Administration
Browse by Topic
The School provides content
and resources on a wide array
of topics in local government
and judicial administration in
North Carolina.
Select a topic to explore all
related content.
Local and State Government
Courts and Judicial Administration
Courses
The School of Government
offers up to 200 courses,
workshops, webinars, and
professional conferences
each year.
All Courses
Publications
The School of Government
publishes essential books,
manuals, reports, articles,
bulletins, and other print and
online content related to state
and local government.
All Publications
Browse
Blogs
Faculty write for a number
of School of Government
blogs providing timely
updates on emerging issues.
Resources
The School of Government
offers information and
services related to a wide
range of topics relevant to
government and judicial
officials—in-person and on a
variety of platforms.
- Blog Posts
- Centers and Services
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Knapp Library
- Legal Summaries
- Listservs
- Microsites
- Tools and Apps
Master of Public
Administration Program
The UNC MPA program prepares public service leaders. The program is offered in two formats: on-campus and online.
For more information, visit mpa.unc.edu
Giving
The School of Government depends on private and public support for fulfilling its mission. Your gift will make a lasting impact on the quality of government and civic participation in North Carolina.
Knapp Library
The Joseph Palmer Knapp Library houses a large collection of material on state and local government, public administration, and management to support the School's instructional and research programs and the educational mission of the Master of Public Administration program. Reference and research services are available to all residents of North Carolina, and additional assistance is available to state and local government personnel, both elected and appointed.
- Covid-19 Response

Welcome to Relief from a Criminal Conviction: A Digital Guide to Expunctions, Certificates of Relief, and Other Procedures in North Carolina. This web-based guide, recipient of the Margaret Taylor Writing Award from the School of Government, explains in one place the principal mechanisms available in North Carolina for obtaining relief from a criminal conviction. It supplements the School’s Collateral Consequences Assessment Tool, C-CAT, an online tool enabling users to identify the potential consequences of a criminal conviction in North Carolina. The guide includes changes made by the General Assembly through the end of its 2023 legislative session.

Features include:

Keyword searching
Links to internal and external cross-references
Printable pages throughout the site
Accessibility from anywhere your electronic device can connect to the internet
Periodic updates

This guide draws on the work of many others, including the 2021 Summary of North Carolina Expunctions by Daniel Bowes & Laura Holland (N.C. Justice Center, 2021) and the Expungement Resources website maintained by the NC Second Chance Alliance. School of Government editors and IT professionals have been instrumental in creating and sustaining this guide over the years. Thank you!

The views expressed in the guide and any errors are those of the author, John Rubin, a School of Government faculty member who specializes in criminal law and procedure. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to him at rubin@sog.unc.edu.

This guide does not purport to provide legal advice in individual cases. Users should refer to relevant parts of the North Carolina General Statutes and other laws and seek advice as necessary from a qualified attorney.

© UNC School of Government

Faculty Coordinator

Albert Coates Professor of Public Law and Government

rubin@sog.unc.edu

Public Officials - Courts and Judicial Administration Roles

Criminal Defense Attorneys

Indigent Defense

Juvenile Defenders

Topics - Courts and Judicial Administration

Criminal Law and Procedure

Collateral Consequences

Criminal Defenses

Indigent Defense

Error | UNC School of Government

Error

The website encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later.