You are eligible for expunging criminal records only if you were charged, but not prosecuted, or if you were found not guilty: either at the court of first instance or on appeal. In some cases, Class C misdemeanors (generally traffic tickets) are also eligible for expunction. If you received a pardon from the Governor you are also eligible.

An Order of Nondisclosure, on the other hand, can be obtained by those who have undergone a deferred adjudication and who have committed an offense where the law allows deferred adjudication. In addition, they have not received any further conviction beyond a Class C misdemeanor (see FAQ's for specific convictions and waiting times).

Both these approaches effectively allow you to have your criminal records sealed from databases, private companies in the general public. Moreover, you are legally entitled to deny that such Texas criminal records actually exists. In short, it effectively erases your previous record. As a warning, however, the Order of Nondisclosure may be denied if you have received any further charges beyond that of a Class C misdemeanor.