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IC 35-38-9-2
Expunging misdemeanor convictions
Sec. 2. (a) This section applies only to a person convicted of a
misdemeanor, including a Class D felony reduced to a misdemeanor.
(b) Not earlier than five (5) years after the date of conviction
(unless the prosecuting attorney consents in writing to an earlier
period), the person convicted of the misdemeanor may petition the
sentencing court to expunge conviction records contained in:
(1) a court's files;
(2) the files of the department of correction;
IC 35-38-9-3
IC 35-38-9-4
shall distribute the fees as in the case of a civil action. A person who
files a petition to expunge conviction records may not receive a
waiver or reduction of fees upon a showing of indigency.
IC 35-38-9-5
shall pay the filing fees required for filing a civil action, and the clerk
shall distribute the fees as in the case of a civil action. A person who
files a petition to expunge conviction records may not receive a
waiver or reduction of fees upon a showing of indigency.
IC 35-38-9-6
of Homeland Security, if disclosure is required to comply
with an agreement relating to the sharing of criminal history
information.
person's records, records required to be maintained concerning
sex or violent offenders, or any registration requirement
imposed on the person; and
IC 35-38-9-7
IC 35-38-9-8
petitioner has filed under this chapter.
IC 35-38-9-9
expunge convictions from separate counties must file a petition in
each county in which a conviction was entered.
IC 35-38-9-10
Expunging minor Class D felony convictions
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this section
applies only to a person convicted of a Class D felony. This section
does not apply to a person if the person's Class D felony was reduced
to a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) An elected official convicted of an offense while serving the
official's term or as a candidate for public office.
(2) A sex or violent offender (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5).
(3) A person convicted of a felony that resulted in bodily injury
to another person.
(4) A person convicted of perjury (IC 35-44.1-2-1) or official
misconduct (IC 35-44.1-1-1).
(5) A person convicted of an offense described in:
(A) IC 35-42-1;
(B) IC 35-42-3.5; or
(C) IC 35-42-4.
(c) Not earlier than eight (8) years after the date of conviction
(unless the prosecuting attorney consents in writing to an earlier
period), the person convicted of the Class D felony may petition the
sentencing court to expunge conviction records contained in:
(1) a court's files;
(2) the files of the department of correction;
(3) the files of the bureau of motor vehicles; and
(4) the files of any other person who provided treatment or
services to the petitioning person under a court order;
that relate to the person's Class D felony conviction.
(d) A person who files a petition to expunge conviction records
shall pay the filing fees required for filing a civil action, and the clerk
shall distribute the fees as in the case of a civil action. A person who
files a petition to expunge conviction records may not receive a
waiver or reduction of fees upon a showing of indigency.
(e) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that:
(1) the period required by this section has elapsed;
(2) no charges are pending against the person;
(3) the person does not have an existing or pending driver's
license suspension;
(4) the person has successfully completed the person's sentence,
including any term of supervised release, and satisfied all other
obligations placed on the person as part of the sentence; and
(5) the person has not been convicted of a crime within the
previous eight (8) years;
the court shall order the conviction records described in subsection
(c) expunged in accordance with section 6 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Expunging certain less serious felony convictions
Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this section
applies only to a person convicted of a felony.
(b) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) An elected official convicted of an offense while serving the
official's term or as a candidate for public office.
(2) A sex or violent offender (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5).
(3) A person convicted of a felony that resulted in serious
bodily injury to another person.
(4) A person convicted of official misconduct (IC 35-44.1-1-1).
(5) A person convicted of an offense described in:
(A) IC 35-42-1;
(B) IC 35-42-3.5; or
(C) IC 35-42-4.
(c) Not earlier than eight (8) years after the completion of the
person's sentence (including the completion of any term of
supervised release and the satisfaction of all other obligations placed
on the person as part of the sentence, unless the prosecuting attorney
consents in writing to an earlier period), the person convicted of the
felony may petition the sentencing court to expunge conviction
records contained in:
(1) a court's files;
(2) the files of the department of correction;
(3) the files of the bureau of motor vehicles; and
(4) the files of any other person who provided treatment or
services to the petitioning person under a court order;
that relate to the person's felony conviction.
(d) A person who files a petition to expunge conviction records
shall pay the filing fees required for filing a civil action, and the clerk
(e) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that:
(1) the period required by this section has elapsed;
(2) no charges are pending against the person;
(3) the person does not have an existing or pending driver's
license suspension;
(4) the person has successfully completed the person's sentence,
including any term of supervised release, and satisfied all other
obligations placed on the person as part of the sentence; and
(5) the person has not been convicted of a crime within the
previous eight (8) years;
the court may order the conviction records described in subsection
(c) marked as expunged in accordance with section 7 of this chapter.
A person whose records have been ordered marked as expunged
under this section is considered to have had the person's records
expunged for all purposes other than the disposition of the records.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Expunging certain serious felony convictions; consent of
prosecutor required
Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this section
applies to a person convicted of a felony, including:
(1) an elected official convicted of an offense while serving the
official's term or as a candidate for public office; and
(2) a person convicted of a felony that resulted in serious bodily
injury to another person.
(b) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) A sex or violent offender (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5).
(2) A person convicted of official misconduct (IC 35-44.1-1-1).
(3) A person convicted of an offense described in:
(A) IC 35-42-1;
(B) IC 35-42-3.5; or
(C) IC 35-42-4.
(c) Not earlier than ten (10) years after the completion of the
person's sentence (including the completion of any term of
supervised release and the satisfaction of all other obligations placed
on the person as part of the sentence, unless the prosecuting attorney
consents in writing to an earlier period), the person convicted of the
felony may petition the sentencing court to expunge conviction
records contained in:
(1) a court's files;
(2) the files of the department of correction;
(3) the files of the bureau of motor vehicles; and
(4) the files of any other person who provided treatment or
services to the petitioning person under a court order;
that relate to the person's felony conviction.
(d) A person who files a petition to expunge conviction records
(e) If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that:
(1) the period required by this section has elapsed;
(2) no charges are pending against the person;
(3) the person does not have an existing or pending driver's
license suspension;
(4) the person has successfully completed the person's sentence,
including any term of supervised release, and satisfied all other
obligations placed on the person as part of the sentence;
(5) the person has not been convicted of a crime within the
previous ten (10) years; and
(6) the prosecuting attorney has consented in writing to the
expungement of the person's criminal records;
the court may order the conviction records described in subsection
(c) marked as expunged in accordance with section 7 of this chapter.
A person whose records have been ordered marked as expunged
under this section is considered to have had the person's records
expunged for all purposes other than the disposition of the records.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Effect of expunging misdemeanor and minor Class D felony
convictions
Sec. 6. (a) If the court orders conviction records expunged under
sections 2 through 3 of this chapter, the court shall do the following
with respect to the specific records expunged by the court:
(1) Order:
(A) the department of correction;
(B) the bureau of motor vehicles; and
(C) each:
(i) law enforcement agency; and
(ii) other person;
who incarcerated, provided treatment for, or provided other
services for the person under an order of the court;
to prohibit the release of the person's records or information in
the person's records to anyone without a court order, other than
a law enforcement officer acting in the course of the officer's
official duty.
(2) Order the central repository for criminal history information
maintained by the state police department to seal the person's
expunged conviction records. Records sealed under this
subdivision may be disclosed only to:
(A) a prosecuting attorney if:
(i) authorized by a court order; and
(ii) needed to carry out the official duties of the
prosecuting attorney; and
(B) the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department
(3) Notify the clerk of the supreme court to seal any records in
the clerk's possession that relate to the conviction.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), if a petition to expunge
conviction records is granted under sections 2 through 3 of this
chapter, the records of:
(1) the sentencing court;
(2) a juvenile court;
(3) a court of appeals; and
(4) the supreme court;
concerning the person shall be permanently sealed.
(c) If a petition to expunge conviction records is granted under
sections 2 through 3 of this chapter with respect to the records of a
person who is named in an opinion or memorandum decision by the
supreme court or the court of appeals, the court shall:
(1) redact the opinion or memorandum decision as it appears on
the computer gateway administered by the office of technology
so that it does not include the petitioner's name (in the same
manner that opinions involving juveniles are redacted); and
(2) provide a redacted copy of the opinion to any publisher or
organization to whom the opinion or memorandum decision is
provided after the date of the order of expungement.
The supreme court and court of appeals are not required to destroy
or otherwise dispose of any existing copy of an opinion or
memorandum decision that includes the petitioner's name.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a prosecuting attorney may
submit a written application to a court that granted an expungement
petition under this chapter to gain access to any records that were
permanently sealed under subsection (b), if the records are relevant
in a new prosecution of the person. If a prosecuting attorney who
submits a written application under this subsection shows that the
records are relevant for a new prosecution of the person, the court
that granted the expungement petition shall:
(1) order the records to be unsealed; and
(2) allow the prosecuting attorney who submitted the written
application to have access to the records.
If a court orders records to be unsealed under this subsection, the
court shall order the records to be permanently resealed at the earliest
possible time after the reasons for unsealing the records cease to
exist. However, if the records are admitted as evidence against the
person in a new prosecution that results in the person's conviction, or
are used to enhance a sentence imposed on the person in a new
prosecution, the court is not required to reseal the records.
(e) If a person whose conviction records are expunged under
section 5 of this chapter is required to register as a sex offender
based on the commission of a felony which has been expunged:
(1) the expungement does not affect the operation of the sex
offender registry web site, any person's ability to access the
(2) the expunged conviction must be clearly marked as
expunged on the sex offender registry web site.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Effect of expunging serious and less serious felony convictions
Sec. 7. (a) This section applies only to a person who has filed a
petition for expungement under section 4 or 5 of this chapter and
whose records have been ordered marked as expunged.
(b) The court records and other public records relating to the
arrest, conviction, or sentence of a person whose conviction records
have been marked as expunged remain public records. However, the
court shall order that the records be clearly and visibly marked or
identified as being expunged.
(c) The state police department, the bureau of motor vehicles, and
any other law enforcement agency in possession of records that relate
to the conviction ordered to be marked as expunged shall add an
entry to the person's record of arrest, conviction, or sentence in the
criminal history data base stating that the record is marked as
expunged.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Petition to expunge felony convictions
Sec. 8. (a) This section applies only to a petition to expunge
conviction records under sections 2 through 5 of this chapter. This
section does not apply to a petition to seal arrest records under
section 1 of this chapter.
(b) Any person may seek an expungement under sections 2
through 5 of this chapter by filing a verified petition for
expungement. The petition must include the following:
(1) The petitioner's full name and all other legal names or
aliases by which the petitioner is or has been known.
(2) The petitioner's date of birth.
(3) The petitioner's addresses from the date of the offense to the
date of the petition.
(4) The petitioner shall affirm that no criminal investigation or
charges are pending against the petitioner.
(5) The petitioner shall affirm that the petitioner has not
committed another crime within the period required for
expungement.
(6) The petitioner shall list all convictions and the date of the
conviction.
(7) The petitioner shall affirm that the required period has
elapsed or attach a copy of the prosecuting attorney's written
consent to a shorter period.
(8) The petitioner shall describe any other petitions that the
(9) For a petition filed under section 5 of this chapter, the
petitioner shall attach a copy of the prosecuting attorney's
written consent.
(10) The petitioner shall provide evidence that the petitioner has
successfully completed all terms of the sentence previously
imposed, including:
(A) payment of restitution, fines, and court costs; and
(B) completion of any terms of probation, parole, or
community corrections.
(c) The petitioner may include any other information that the
petitioner believes may assist the court.
(d) The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition upon the
prosecuting attorney in accordance with the Indiana Rules of Trial
Procedure.
(e) The prosecuting attorney shall promptly forward a copy of the
petition to the last known address of the victim and inform the victim
of the victim's right to be present and address the court.
(f) The prosecuting attorney shall reply to the petition not later
than thirty (30) days after receipt.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Duties of court in ruling on expungement petitions
Sec. 9. (a) If the prosecuting attorney does not object, the court
may grant the petition for expungement without a hearing.
(b) The court may summarily deny a petition, if the petition does
not meet the requirements of section 8 of this chapter, or if the
statements contained in the petition demonstrate that the petitioner
is not entitled to relief.
(c) If the prosecuting attorney objects to the petition, the court
shall set the matter for hearing not sooner than sixty (60) days after
service of the petition on the prosecuting attorney.
(d) A victim of the offense for which expungement is sought may
submit an oral or written statement in support of or in opposition to
the petition at the time of the hearing. The court shall consider the
victim's statement before making its determination.
(e) The petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence
that the facts alleged in the verified petition are true.
(f) The denial of a petition is an appealable final order.
(g) If the court grants the petition for expungement, the court shall
issue an order of expungement as described in section 6 of this
chapter.
(h) This subsection applies only to a petition to expunge
conviction records filed under sections 2 through 5 of this chapter.
This subsection does not apply to a petition to seal arrest records
under section 1 of this chapter. A petitioner may seek to expunge
more than one (1) conviction at the same time. The petitioner shall
consolidate all convictions that the petitioner wishes to expunge from
the same county in one (1) petition. A petitioner who wishes to
(i) This subsection applies only to a petition to expunge
conviction records filed under sections 2 through 5 of this chapter.
This subsection does not apply to a petition to seal arrest records
under section 1 of this chapter. Except as provided in subsection (j),
a petitioner may file only one (1) petition for expungement during
the petitioner's lifetime. For purposes of this subsection, all petitions
for expungement filed in separate counties for offenses committed in
those counties count as one (1) petition if they are filed in one (1)
three hundred sixty-five (365) day period.
(j) A petitioner whose petition for expungement has been denied
on the merits, in whole or in part, may file a subsequent petition for
expungement with respect to one (1) or more convictions included in
the initial expungement petition that were not expunged. A
subsequent petition for expungement may be filed not earlier than
three (3) years following the denial of a previous expungement
petition. A subsequent petition for expungement may not include any
conviction that was not included in the initial expungement petition.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.
Unlawful discrimination against a person whose record has been
sealed or expunged
Sec. 10. (a) It is unlawful discrimination for any person to:
(1) suspend;
(2) expel;
(3) refuse to employ;
(4) refuse to admit;
(5) refuse to grant or renew a license, permit, or certificate
necessary to engage in any activity, occupation, or profession;
or
(6) otherwise discriminate against;
any person because of a conviction or arrest record expunged or
sealed under this chapter.
(b) The civil rights of a person whose conviction has been
expunged shall be restored, including the right to vote, to hold public
office, to serve as a juror, and, to the extent not prohibited by federal
law, to own or possess a firearm.
(c) In any application for employment, a license, or other right or
privilege, a person may be questioned about a previous criminal
record only in terms that exclude expunged convictions or arrests,
such as: "Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime
that has not been expunged by a court?".
(d) A person whose record is expunged shall be treated as if the
person had never been convicted of the offense. However, upon a
subsequent arrest or conviction for an unrelated offense, the prior
expunged conviction:
(1) may be considered by the court in determining the sentence
imposed for the new offense;
(2) is a prior unrelated conviction for purposes of:
(A) a habitual offender enhancement; and
(B) enhancing the new offense based on a prior conviction;
and
(3) may be admitted as evidence in the proceeding for a new
offense as if the conviction had not been expunged.
(e) Any person that discriminates against a person as described in
subsection (a) commits a Class C infraction and may be held in
contempt by the court issuing the order of expungement or by any
other court of general jurisdiction. Any person may file a written
motion of contempt to bring an alleged violation of this section to the
attention of a court. In addition, the person is entitled to injunctive
relief.
(f) In any judicial or administrative proceeding alleging
negligence or other fault, an order of expungement may be
introduced as evidence of the person's exercise of due care in hiring,
retaining, licensing, certifying, admitting to a school or program, or
otherwise transacting business or engaging in activity with the person
to whom the order of expungement was issued.
(g) A conviction that has been expunged under this chapter is not
admissible as evidence in an action for negligent hiring, admission,
or licensure against a person or entity who relied on the order.
As added by P.L.159-2013, SEC.4.