Your past is in the past, but the same does not apply to your criminal record. If you were ever arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime or infraction in Indiana, including traffic offenses, your criminal report will showcase them. Worst of all, your criminal report is available to the public, which means everyone from your next door neighbor to your employer can look it up and see what kind of criminal history you have on record in the state.

Furthermore, this means that your criminal history affects several significant aspects of your life, professionally, financially, socially, and even in terms of housing. If you have criminal content on your personal record, it is in your best interest to see if you qualify for criminal record expungement or record sealing in Indiana.

Continue reading to learn more about these new Indiana Second Chance laws, including how to determine your eligibility and how to get started on a petition.

CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT

Expungement is the legal removal or elimination of criminal convictions and/or arrests from one’s permanent record. Only under certain circumstances does a person qualify to expunge criminal records. Records that are not eligible for expungement, however, may be eligible for criminal record sealing. Records that may be expunged include arrest records, misdemeanors, level 6 felonies, level 6 felonies reduced to misdemeanors, and more.

CRIMINAL RECORD SEALING

Criminal record sealing criminal records refers to the restriction of certain access. Once sealed, such records can only be viewed by particular authorities, such as criminal justice agencies, and at times, childcare agencies. Records that may be sealed with restricted access include arrest records, misdemeanors, level 6 felonies, level 6 felonies reduced to misdemeanors, and more. Indiana arrest records can be sealed after one year from the date of the arrest. But keep in mind that there are more qualifications aside from the amount of time that has passed.

Qualifications

Not all criminal charges and convictions are approved for expungement nor sealing in Indiana. Such offenses include murder, sex crimes, feticide, manslaughter, reckless homicide, human trafficking, assisting or causing suicide, transfer of contaminated bodily fluids, registered sex offender status, and inappropriate communication with a child or minor. If a person has any of these arrests, charges, or convictions on their record, they cannot qualify for expungement.

Warnings

The Indiana Second Chance Laws may not be active for much longer because they are highly opposed by many private organizations and in interest groups. This means they are subject to repeal in the near future. For this reason, be sure to act fast and take advantage of criminal record expungement in Indiana right now. Furthermore, the process is complex and very strict; just one minor filing error can get your application denied, and you can only apply for criminal record expungement ONE TIME in your life. If your application is denied, you cannot re-apply. . For this reason, you need to hire a licensed criminal defense lawyer who specializes in this area of law. They can make sure your petition is completed correctly, and on time.

How to Get Started on Your Petition

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law at 317-636-7514 to learn more about sealing or expunging your criminal records in Indiana. He is eager to help you get the fresh start in life that you deserve! Best of all, his services start as low as $850, so you can afford to clean up your record just as much as the next guy. Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation, today.