The rules for juvenile records are found at Articles 917 to 922 of the Louisiana Children's Code. Therefore, you generally will not be able to expunge a federal arrest record even if you were innocent and acquitted. However, federal courts have inherent authority to order expungement for extraordinary circumstances such as a lack of any probable cause for arrest or arrest for violation of an unconstitutional statute. The expungement rules discussed herein only apply to arrests for violations of Louisiana state and local laws. No, a pardon will not expunge your criminal records for the pardoned conviction.
Pardons do restore certain rights and benefits.
In Louisiana, all first offenders are automatically pardoned. A full Governor's pardon, rather than an automatic first offender pardon, may be required to restore eligibility for gaming employee permits, certain employment in nursing homes, home health agencies, etc., and business permits such as liquor and real estate licenses. An automatic pardon does not prevent your conviction from being used to increase the sentence for a subsequent offense. Generally, adult arrest and conviction records relative to an arrest that resulted in a conviction may not be expunged. However, there is a limited exception for a case in which you were specifically placed on probation pursuant to Article 893 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, successfully satisfied your probation and had the sentence vacated.