MO HB1344

Allows individuals to petition courts to close all official criminal records for eligible offenses after meeting specified criteria, including prostitution violations, drug offenses (chapter 195), and most misdemeanors and municipal violations.

Requires petitioner to wait at least five years after completing imprisonment, probation, or parole and remain conviction-free during that five-year period before eligible to petition for record closure.

Excludes driving while intoxicated, sexual offenses, domestic violence violations, and traffic offenses by commercial driver's license holders from record closure eligibility.

Upon granting closure, records become confidential and unavailable to the public, but remain accessible to law enforcement and prosecutors for criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Petitioner may file verified petition in civil division of circuit court where at least one arrest occurred and must provide personal identifying information, arrest dates, case numbers, and fingerprints with the petition.