The new Indiana Second Chance law does exactly what it says it does: it gives residents of the state an opportunity to have another chance at obtaining a better quality of life. However, expunging your criminal records does not actually destroy them forever; they are still accessible by certain groups and branches of the law.
Continue reading to learn the most important concepts of criminal record expungement, including who can still access records even after they have been expunged.
Indiana Second Chance Law (IC §35-38-9)
The Indiana Second Chance Law (IC §35-38-9) permanently seals a person’s criminal record, prohibiting public access through background check portals. If an employer, landlord, Dean of admissions, bank, or other party runs a background check after your records have been expunged, they will not see any such records on the results. This privacy gives you more opportunities in life, such as job promotions, school enrollments, professional licensing, loan approvals, and more affordable housing.
Who Can See Your Records
It is important to understand that expunged criminal records are not gone and deleted forever. There is a significant difference between a criminal pardon and expungement. After your past criminal records have been expunged, law enforcement agencies are still authorized to access them for the purpose of criminal investigations and proceedings. Although law enforcement and governmental agencies can see expunged criminal records, the general public cannot. This includes friends, family, employers, schools, banks, and more.
How to Expunge Your Criminal Records
There are various qualifiers that determine when and what you can expunge from your criminal records. Some of the most influential factors include the amount of time since the date of the arrest or conviction, the severity of the crime, sentence completion, pending criminal charges, drivers’ license status, and more.
In order to confirm your eligibility and move forward with a criminal record expungement petition, you must consult with a licensed Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer who specializes in expungement services. Not only can they tell you whether or not you qualify, they can assist you with the entire petition process, which can be very convoluted and complex.
Indiana Criminal Expungement Services
Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to determine your eligibility for criminal record expungement in Indiana. We offer free initial consultations and prices start as low as $850, so anyone can afford to clean up their criminal history! Whether you are looking to seal or expunge a criminal record, we are the criminal lawyers to trust for a hassle-free petitioning process. Call 317-636-7514 to learn more, today.