The Legalities of Criminal Record Expungement in Indiana

Posted on December 8, 2023 by admin

In a world where past mistakes can leave indelible marks, many individuals find themselves haunted by their criminal records long after they have paid their dues. These records can affect job prospects, housing applications, and even educational opportunities. But in the state of Indiana, there’s a glimmer of hope known as Indiana’s Second Chance Law.

This law allows for the expungement of certain criminal records, offering individuals an opportunity to clear their slate and move forward unencumbered. In this blog post, we will delve into the legalities of criminal record expungement in Indiana, shedding light on the process, eligibility, and potential benefits.

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Understanding Criminal Records

Before we dive into the expungement process, it’s essential to understand what criminal records are and how they can impact an individual’s life. Criminal records are official documents that contain a person’s criminal history, including arrests, convictions, and any other interactions with the criminal justice system. These records are maintained by law enforcement agencies and can be accessed by potential employers, landlords, and educational institutions.

Having a criminal record can be a significant barrier to obtaining employment or housing, as many organizations conduct background checks before making hiring or rental decisions. This means that individuals with criminal records may face discrimination and possibly have limited opportunities for advancement. However, through the process of expungement, these records can be “sealed,” meaning they can no longer be accessed by the public.

The Process of Expungement

The process of expungement in Indiana involves petitioning the court to have certain criminal records removed from public access. To be eligible for expungement, individuals must meet specific criteria, such as having completed all sentencing requirements and not being convicted of a violent or sexual offense. Additionally, the waiting period for expungement varies depending on the nature of the offense, ranging from five to ten years.

If eligible, individuals must file a petition with the court in the county where their conviction occurred. The petition must include necessary information, such as case numbers and dates of arrest and conviction. Once filed, a hearing will be scheduled within 60 days to determine if the expungement request will be granted. If approved, the individual’s criminal records will be sealed from public access, although police may still have access in certain circumstances.

The Benefits of Expungement

Having a criminal record can have lasting impacts on an individual’s life, but through expungement, those consequences can be mitigated. The criminal record expungement laws can open doors to job opportunities, housing options, and educational pursuits that were previously out of reach due to a criminal record. It can also provide individuals with peace of mind, knowing that their past mistakes will not continue to affect their future.

However, it’s important to note that expungement does not completely erase an individual’s criminal record. In some situations, the record may still be accessible to certain parties, such as law enforcement or government agencies. It’s also crucial to follow all laws and regulations related to disclosure of criminal history, as failure to do so can result in penalties.

Final Thoughts

In summary, expungement is a legal process that allows individuals in Indiana to have certain criminal records sealed from public access. This process can provide individuals with a second chance, removing barriers to employment, housing, and education. However, it’s essential to understand the eligibility criteria and follow all laws related to disclosure of criminal history. If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing expungement in Indiana, it’s best to consult with a legal professional for guidance through the process.

With this knowledge, individuals can take the necessary steps towards a brighter future. So, it’s crucial to stay informed and understand their rights when it comes to criminal record expungement in Indiana. It’s never too late for a second chance. Let’s work together towards a more inclusive and equitable society for all individuals.

Are the repercussions of your criminal past limiting the chances for personal and professional success? Contact our respected lawyers for affordable criminal record expungement services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our fees start as low as $850, and we never charge for initial consultations.

People Most Likely to Have Background Check Ran On Them

Posted on March 11, 2022 by admin

Our world is much different today than it was generations before. Humans have always been nosy, but with the increasing applications of technology available to us now, we are even nosier than ever because such technology makes it easy to be. There are various portals and resources out there for performing historic scans on people. One such resource is a background check, and some are more prone to having one done on them than others.

Continue reading to learn which people are very likely to be entered into a background scanning program and why, plus what you can do if you are not happy with your criminal past in Indiana.

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Common Background Scan Targets

First Dates

With the new online dating trend in full motion, many men and women are going on first dates with strangers they’ve only communicated with through technology. Because this is becoming a more common approach to dating, first dates are happening more often with complete strangers, rather than a set-up by mutual friends. For one’s own protection and peace-of-mind, it is wise to perform a background check on a person you intend to go on a date with. You can check for driving records, arrest warrants, criminal convictions, owed child support, and more. Wouldn’t this give you a better understanding of who you are about to have dinner and drinks with?

Babysitters and Nannies

If you intend to leave your beloved children in the care of a stranger, perhaps a new babysitter or nanny, a background check can certainly come in handy. This is especially suggested for anyone interviewing and hiring new nannies, babysitters, and more. You will want to know if your new babysitter has a history with drugs and alcohol, or a poor driving record before letting your kids get into a car with them. A background check will better ensure the safety of your children.

House-Sitters and Housekeepers

If you are planning to go out of town for an extended period of time and need to appoint a person to care for your home while you are gone (i.e. mail, watering plants, letting the dogs out, etc.), it is best to perform a background check first. This also applies to housekeepers and maids. Before allowing a stranger or acquaintance to have access to your home, you will want to know if they have a criminal history of theft, drugs, and more.

Job Applicants

Job applicants are the most likely of them all to have a background check performed on them. Applying for any sort of formal job, whether a cashier at the local grocery store or a flight attendant for a major airline, will subject you to background scanning. After all, companies want to know who they are hiring, and a series of interviews cannot always reveal the deeper information about a person an employer would need to know in order to make a responsible hiring decision.

Employment background scans will look for education records, previous employers, job resignations, job losses, job responsibilities, professional credentials, military records, and more. It will also look for workers’ compensation suits and settlements, state licensing records, professional references, personal references, and more. Employer background scans might reveal credit scores, social security numbers, bank accounts, property ownership, assets, past credit loans, defaulted loans, repossessions, outstanding debt, bankruptcies, medical records, insurance records, biological children, dependents, and more.

Are you unhappy with your permanent record in Indiana? Is your criminal history holding you back from opportunities in life? Contact our esteemed lawyers for affordable criminal record expungement services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Are fees start as low as $850, and we never charge for initial consultations.

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Why it is Important to Run a Background Check on Yourself

Posted on September 29, 2020 by admin

There are several reasons to perform a background check on another person. If you are an employer hiring new staff, you are going to want to review each person’s criminal and work history. If you are interviewing for potential roommates, you will want to know their criminal and credit history. If you are a landlord preparing to rent out a property to a new tenant, you will also want to know their criminal and credit report, as well as their rental history. Even people who meet new love interests might want to do a background on a person before accepting that first or second date.

As you can see, there are many cases where a background check comes in handy. But have you thought about doing a background check on yourself? If not, it’s time you should!

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Perform Your Own Background Check ASAP

Performing a background scan on yourself is beneficial for a few reasons. For one, you can see what type of information is available to the public, just floating around out there about you, as well as if the information is accurate or not. Second, you are better prepared to answer questions about your criminal, renters, credit, and work history when you have up-to-date information on those specific records. No matter what the reason, this is YOU we’re talking about, so consider running a background check on yourself soon!

Fortunately, you are only performing this scan on yourself, so you can use just about any old site that provides such services. If you were an employer or landlord, for instance, you would have to use the services of a consumer reporting agency (CRA) for legal purposes. These sites use human intelligence rather than a computer to look up your information. The CRA sites are not free and sometimes expensive, but since you are planning to scan yourself, you can use a free online background check database site. There are numerous of these websites online, including PeekYou, The Beat, and White Pages Neighbors.

Online Background Check Databases

Most records are available as general public information, so you can also just visit your city’s government website and use their services, which are most likely free of charge also. Consider doing a simple Google search of yourself as well. You would be surprised which photos and content pops up about you, or someone that shares your same name!

Options for Improving Your Background Info

If you are not proud of what you find about yourself after completing a background check, consider criminal record expungement services. If you qualify, some states allow you to expunge or conceal past criminal histories, so they are not publicly accessible by employers, landlords, and more. Call reputable lawyer that is well-versed in your state’s criminal expungement laws, and see if criminal record expungement services are right for you!

How to Expunge Your Indiana Criminal Record This Year

Call our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm at 317-636-7514 if you would like to apply for restricted access or expunge an arrest from your criminal record in Indiana. We are happy to provide free initial consultations to discuss your case without any out-of-pocket obligations. And our rates start as low as $850! Whether you are looking to seal or expunge a criminal record, we are the criminal lawyers to trust for a hassle-free petitioning process. Take advantage of this opportunity and get your criminal record expunged this year!

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