Expungement in Rhode Island destroys or erases the criminal record, after which you may legally state you were not arrested or convicted for that offense. Record sealing makes the record inaccessible to the general public but preserves it for certain law enforcement and licensing uses. Both remove the record from standard employer background checks. Expungement is the stronger remedy and is the default goal when you qualify. Sealing is the fallback option for cases that do not qualify for expungement. Both require a court petition and may require a hearing where the Attorney General can object.
