New Indiana Expungement Law July 01, 2011

[Tiger747]

Hello All

Well the state of Indiana has finally passed a new law that will allow those with misdemeanors and Class D felonies to seal their backgrounds for anything older than 8 years.

Evidently, Marion County, the capital county, has 100,000 people, alone, unemployable due to misdemeanors. There are obviously a lot of counties in Indiana.

Starting July 01, 2011, individuals can petiton the courts to seal their histories; however, additional steps are necessary to remove records from internet databases. Reporting agencies, once notafied, have 180 days to remove the files. How expensive this is, I have no idea.

It remains to be seen how much relief this will actually provide, but for Hoosiers laboring under the yoke of trying to find a job with decades-old misdemeanors, it might be a hekp on the job front.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Thank you for sharing this. If anything, this information might bestow a glimmer of hope upon people who feel that they've been held back professionally and personally as the result of a minor blemish on a criminal record.

[Karl Farmer]

Won't help a nurse that still must report it into infinity. BONs have too much unbridled power.

[Tiger747]

They, the legislaters who drafted it, were shocked it was passed! They said afterwards, however, that so many peers came to them and said they knew family members and friends who would be helped by this law. They say it is basically a "jobs bill with a humanitarian twist".

Other legislation is being considered to have misdemeanors drop off automatically after 5 years. And Indiana has been historically harsh here. So, this is news.

Some states are even pushing for legislation making it illegal for employers to even ask about criminal histories. The thinking is, as one legislator put it, "once the time is served, the consequences should not linger. Otherwise, we might as well tattoo the foreheads of people who've had a brush with the law with the word 'convict'."

Well, I have had my license for a year now with no nursing job because of a misdemeanor from 10 years ago, so it might be a little late for me; but, for those in nursing school, I think relief is on the way-- hopefully by time you graduate.

Remember, petitoning the court to have something sealed is one thing; having the record removed from internet databases can take up to 180 days (if able to be done at all).

Good luck everybody. I thought this was a positive development.

[carrie_c]

That's really great. I wish Tennessee would pass a law like that.

[caliotter3]

Any help is better than the status quo. Thanks for sharing.

[angie816]

I was just going to reply this to your other comment; I am pursing this for my records from 15 years ago; hope all goes well I will keep allnurses posted. I finished nursing school this spring and am very nervous about applying to take boards; but I am being completly honest about my past and am hoping I will be granted permission to take them and get my license.