Expungement Attorney Near New Haven, IN

If you have a criminal violation on your record, any prospective employer or potential landlord can run a background check and know about it. This can be the difference between landing the job you always wanted and waiting for it to come around again. 

The New Haven, IN expungement attorneys at The Bellinger Law Office can help you begin the process of sealing your record and preventing your past indiscretions from harming your future.

The Expungement Process in Indiana

It was not until 2013 when Indiana and the rest of the United States were experiencing a severe economic recession when Indiana passed legislation to allow those charged with crimes to seal their records. Beforehand, even arrests that ended up in acquittals and dismissals would remain on your record indefinitely. For economic reasons, Indiana introduced legislation allowing Indiana residents with arrests and convictions on their record to have their record sealed.

While your record is never truly expunged, you can prevent prospective employers and landlords from accessing it. 

Who can Qualify for Expungement?

For obvious reasons, not all criminal records are capable of being expunged. These include:

• Public officials convicted of official misconduct
• Any kind of homicide including DUI that results in a death
• Human or sex trafficking offenses
• Any form of sex crime

How Expungement Works in Indiana

For all eligible defendants, there is a waiting period depending on the type of conviction. Expungement law divides criminal actions into five sections. Those are listed below:

• Section 1: Juvenile adjudication and arrests without a conviction. The waiting period is one year.
• Section 2: Misdemeanor offenses and level-6 felonies converted to misdemeanors after serving on a felony violation. The waiting period is five years from the date of conviction.
• Section 3: Level-6 felonies that did not involve bodily harm. The waiting period is eight years from the date of conviction.
• Section 4: All eligible felonies that did not involve bodily harm to a victim. The waiting period is eight years.
• Section 5: All other eligible felonies. Requires written consent from the prosecutor. The waiting period is 10 years from the date of conviction or five years after completion of the sentence. 

Talk to a New Haven, IN Expungement Attorney

If your criminal record is preventing you from getting a good job or getting a home or apartment in the area where you want, call the New Haven, IN expungement attorneys at The Bellinger Law Office today. We can help you begin the process of petitioning the court for an expungement and seal your record forever.