Having a federal level record on your criminal history report is unconducive to having a good quality of life. Felony records hold individuals back in almost every important element of life, including dating, socializing, career, school, professional licensing, and even self-esteem. Fortunately, Indiana has passed a law that allows eligible petitioners to seal or expunge past criminal records, including certain felonies.
Continue reading to learn which felony records qualify for criminal expungement and which felonies do not, plus how to get started on your expungement petition near you.
Felony Record Expungement Basics
One of the fundamentals for qualifying for criminal record expungement is time. A certain, specified amount of time must pass before a person becomes eligible to petition for expungement or record sealing. In addition to time, the offense must meet certain requirements. For felonies, the required waiting period is 8 years.
Felony Expungement and Sealing Qualifications
Below is a breakdown of eligible and ineligible felonies for criminal record expungement. Use this guide to gauge your eligibility, then contact a seasoned Indianapolis criminal defense attorney who specializes in appeals and expungements for personalized advice on how to further verify your eligibility and get started on your official petition. Being as though the criminal record expungement law is a very unpopular one among state legislators, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity soon because it might not be around much longer!
Felony Records That Can Be Expunged
Level 6 felonies are the least serious of federal charges and convictions. So long as your level 6 felony did not involve serious bodily injury to another, it likely qualifies for criminal record sealing, but not expungement. Record sealing involves restricting your criminal records from public access, while expungement takes them away altogether, allowing granted individuals to rightfully deny they have ever been convicted. Any felony records outside of these conditions might be eligible for expungement or record sealing with the written consent of a prosecutor.
Felonies That Cannot Be Expunged
There are many kinds of felonies that do not qualify for criminal record expungement or sealing. These include felonies that resulted in serious bodily injury to others, plus certain violent felony offenses, such as sex crimes, hate crimes, homicides, kidnapping, sex trafficking, and official misconduct of politicians.
Are you ready to clean your slate and be free of your felony record? Contact us at 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced expungement lawyer in Indianapolis. Our Indiana criminal expungement services start as low as $850!
Related Posts:
Are Voting Rights Restored After Expunging a Felony?
Can I Buy a Gun After Expunging a Felony Conviction?
When Can I Expunge My Level 6 Felony?