ID H0815

Persons arrested for or convicted of specific assaultive or violent misdemeanors (assault, battery, domestic battery, stalking, protection order violations, telephone harassment, vehicular manslaughter, excessive DUI) or felony drug possession may petition a court to have their criminal records shielded from public disclosure.

Petitioners must wait at least 5 years after completing their sentence, probation, parole, fines, and restitution before filing a petition, and must have no subsequent felony or misdemeanor convictions, pending cases, or active restraining orders at the time of filing.

Upon court approval following a hearing, shielded records become unavailable for public viewing but remain accessible to law enforcement, prosecutors, and court officers; the petitioner may thereafter lawfully deny the events occurred.

A person is limited to only one lifetime petition to shield records for one eligible crime or multiple eligible crimes committed in a single incident.

Shielding may be revoked upon a subsequent felony conviction upon prosecutor request, or upon a subsequent misdemeanor conviction at the court's discretion during sentencing; the law becomes effective July 1, 2022.