If you are considering moving forward with an expungement petition in Indiana, you are likely on your way to a promising future full of better opportunities. However, it is important that you fully understand what criminal record expungement is, what it does, and its various limitations, before you begin. Fundamentally, you need to recognize that an expunged record is not destroyed or eliminated from your permanent criminal history; instead, it is simply unattainable by the general public.

Continue reading to learn who can still access expungement criminal records and who cannot, as well as, how to get started on the right tract with your petition.

Criminal Record Expungement Process

Basically, criminal record expungement involves attending court with the intention of asking the judge to remove certain records that resulted from a past criminal court case so they are not visible to the general public. The process requires extensive filing and paperwork, all of which is very complicated. For this reason, most applicants hire a licensed criminal defense attorney who specializes in the service. You only get once chance to apply, and a minor error like a misspelled work or missed deadline can revoke your right to petition, forever.

Who is the “General Public?”

When a person has a criminal record, such records are available to the general public, either through paid background checks or free public scans, depending on how detailed of a report the user wants. So who makes up the general public? Well, the general public would include anyone who has access to a computer. Common parties that use background checks and scans include employers, schools, banks, rental companies, landlords, airlines, friends, family, and even potential dates or parents of your potential date.

Who Can Still Access Expunged Records?

Although a criminal record is expunged, it still exists. It is not a pardon, nor a repealed conviction. Instead, an expunged record is withdrawn from public databases, but not private ones. Private authorities who will still have access include law enforcement and certain governmental parties, including the police, courts, FBI, immigration officers, and other public officials. On the other hand, these authorities only access such records in very specific situations.

Read our blog, “FAQs About Sealing and Expunging Criminal Records” to learn all the basics to the process of criminal record expungement. This will get you ready to start working on your petition!

How to Get Started on Your Petition

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to learn your eligibility for criminal record expungement in Indiana. We are eager to help you get the fresh start in life that you deserve! Our 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 consultation, today.