Having an Indiana criminal conviction may hurt you in many ways. You may find that your conviction makes it tougher for you to find a job or housing, among other possible limitations. You may also feel some degree of embarrassment over your past and wish you could prevent it from coming back to haunt you.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your past, Indy.gov reports that you may be able to seek relief under Indiana’s Second Chance Law. What is the Second Chance Law, and how might it help you minimize the damage your past causes you today?
The Second Chance Law
Indiana’s Second Chance Law gives you a way to potentially restrict access to some of your criminal record. If you make such a request and the state grants it, your conviction is not going to show up in any background checks performed by individuals or organizations outside of the criminal justice system.
Second Chance Law eligibility
You may be able to seek relief under the Second Chance Law if your charge resulted in a “not guilty” verdict, or if the conviction you received was for a misdemeanor. Depending on circumstances, you may also be able to restrict access to your records following a conviction for a non-violent felony. In rare cases, you may also be able to restrict access to your records after a conviction for a violent or sexual felony.
It is important to note that, contrary to popular belief, Indiana’s Second Chance Law is not an expungement law. This means that while it limits access to your criminal record, it does not completely erase your criminal history.
