Expungement is a legal process that removes or seals a criminal record from public view, making it as if the conviction never happened. It's a type of lawsuit that acknowledges that a person has paid their debt to the criminal justice system and that their record shouldn't limit their future opportunities. 

Once a conviction is expunged, the official record will show that the crime was set aside and dismissed, rather than "convicted". This means that, with some exceptions, a person can answer "no" when asked if they've been convicted of a crime. Expungement can also help with getting certain professional licenses. 

A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the jurisdiction.