If you’ve ever been charged with a crime, arrested, or even convicted you should consider an expungement. Your criminal record is public. Anyone is able to access and view your criminal record. Even if your case was later dismissed, the proceedings are still public record. Without an expungement, your record could impact your job opportunities, your right to own and carry a gun, your ability to obtain a professional license, your ability to obtain a loan or get approved for housing, and much more. An expungement will prevent your past from being used to deny you these opportunities.

The laws surrounding expungements can be complicated and difficult to understand if you’re not familiar with the process. There is certain information that must be included in each petition for expungement depending on the type of case or cases to be expunged. Failure to properly file a petition can result in an immediate rejection from the court. Under the current expungement law, you have one chance to seek an expungement during your entire lifetime. A knowledgeable lawyer, will help you seek an expungement properly.

To get an expungement, a petition must be filed within the statutory time frame in the proper jurisdiction.

When your case is dismissed, the record will show the charges brought against you, the proceedings that occurred in your case (filings, court appearances, hearings, etc.), and that charges in your case were later dropped.

When your case is expunged, your record is erased from public view and criminal history reports (for all arrests, charges, misdemeanor convictions, and level 6 and D felony convictions) and marked expunged (for higher level felony convictions). Indiana Law makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on an expunged conviction or arrest including refusal to employ or grant a promotion, refusal of admission, refusal to grant or renew a license, refusal to grant a permit or certificate necessary to engage in any activity, occupation or profession, or any other form of discrimination.

When you contact Brinkley Law, all you will need is your name and date of birth. We will run a preliminary background check, review all of the information with you, gather any additional information needed, and prepare and file your petition for expungement.