Question 1

Can you get a criminal record expunged in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

Indiana calls its relief "expungement," but records are not destroyed. Arrests that did not lead to conviction, misdemeanors and lower-level felonies are "sealed" (hidden from the public), while more serious eligible felonies are "marked as expunged" and stay public with a visible notation. Expunged convictions are treated as if the person had never been convicted for most purposes, and discrimination based on an expunged record is unlawful. Some arrest records are expunged automatically.

Question 2

Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

If a court dismisses all charges, the person is acquitted of all charges, or a conviction is vacated, the court must order the records expunged automatically (effective no earlier than 60 days after the dismissal or acquittal, unless delayed up to a year at the prosecutor's request). A person arrested without charges pending may petition one year after the arrest, and the court must immediately order the arrest records expunged. Otherwise, a person whose arrest or charge did not result in a conviction may petition one year after the arrest, charge or allegation (or after a vacating decision becomes final), unless the prosecutor agrees to less time. There is no filing fee and no limit on the number of these petitions.

Question 3

Can a misdemeanor be expunged in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

A person may petition to expunge a misdemeanor conviction (including a Class D or Level 6 felony reduced to a misdemeanor) five years after the date of conviction, unless the prosecutor consents in writing to an earlier date, in the circuit or superior court of the county of conviction. Sex or violent offenders and people with two or more separate felony convictions involving unlawful use of a deadly weapon are not eligible. The court must grant the petition if the waiting period has passed, no charges are pending, all fines, fees, costs and restitution are paid, and the person has had no new conviction in the previous five years. Records are sealed.

Question 4

Can a felony be expunged in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

Class D or Level 6 felonies (not involving bodily injury) can be expunged eight years after conviction, and the court must grant expungement if the conditions are met; records are sealed. Other felonies not involving serious bodily injury can be expunged at the later of eight years after conviction or three years after completing the sentence, at the court's discretion; records are marked as expunged. Remaining eligible felonies (including those causing serious bodily injury, and certain offenses by elected officials) require the later of ten years after conviction or five years after the sentence, no conviction in the prior ten years, and the prosecutor's written consent. Not eligible: sex or violent offenders, felonies resulting in death, homicide, human or sexual trafficking, sex crimes, official misconduct by elected officials or judges, serious violent felon firearm possession, and people with two or more separate deadly-weapon felonies. A person may file only one expungement petition for convictions in a lifetime (petitions in different counties within 365 days count as one).

Question 5

Does Indiana have automatic record clearing (clean slate)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for some non-conviction records. Since July 1, 2022, when all charges are dismissed, the person is acquitted of all charges, a conviction is vacated, or a juvenile allegation is found not true or not prosecuted within a year, the court must order the records expunged without a petition. Conviction expungement always requires a petition.

Question 6

How do you seal a juvenile record in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

Juvenile records are not automatically expunged at 18 (except the automatic non-conviction expungements above); the person must ask the court. Records of cases that did not end in an adjudication (an arrest without court, informal adjustment or diversion, dismissal, or acquittal) can be sealed one year later. For cases with an adjudication, the person can ask the court to expunge (destroy) the records using the Indiana Expungement Request Form available from the clerk; there is no fee.

Question 7

How do you file for expungement in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

File a verified petition in a circuit or superior court in the county of conviction (or, for arrests without charges, the county of arrest); petitions get a new "XP" case number. For conviction petitions, the petitioner serves the prosecutor; for arrest petitions, the court does. Eligibility depends on the person's entire criminal history, not just the case being expunged. Victims may submit statements. Because only one conviction-expungement petition is allowed in a lifetime, all eligible convictions should be included. Forms are available from county clerks.

Question 8

How much does expungement cost in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

There is no filing fee to expunge arrest records or for collateral-action requests. For conviction expungement, the petitioner pays the civil case filing fee, which the court may reduce or waive if the petitioner is indigent.

Question 9

What happens after a record is expunged or sealed in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

A person whose record is expunged is treated as if never convicted of the offense, civil rights (voting, holding office, jury service and firearm eligibility under state law) are restored, and it is unlawful discrimination to refuse employment, admission, or a license because of an expunged or sealed record. Applications may ask only about convictions or arrests that have not been expunged. Sealed records remain available to law enforcement; records marked as expunged remain public but are visibly marked. An expunged conviction can still be used for sentencing, habitual offender enhancement and evidence if the person is later convicted. Law enforcement, probation and community corrections employers are not covered by the anti-discrimination rule. Immigration authorities may treat expunged convictions differently.

Question 10

How do I check my own criminal record in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

The Indiana State Police keeps Indiana criminal history records. A Limited Criminal History (felonies and misdemeanor arrests in Indiana only, matched by name and date of birth) can be requested online or by mailing the request form with a money order payable to the State of Indiana to Indiana State Police, Criminal History Limited Check, P.O. Box 6188, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188. ISP recommends its fingerprint-based National Full Criminal History for the most complete report, and offers a separate Challenge My Record process for disputing errors.

What relief the state offers	Indiana calls its relief "expungement," but records are not destroyed. Arrests that did not lead to conviction, misdemeanors and lower-level felonies are "sealed" (hidden from the public), while more serious eligible felonies are "marked as expunged" and stay public with a visible notation. Expunged convictions are treated as if the person had never been convicted for most purposes, and discrimination based on an expunged record is unlawful. Some arrest records are expunged automatically. Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9; Indiana Office of Court Services, Detailed Information on Criminal Case Expungement (updated 7/1/2026)
Arrests and dismissed charges	If a court dismisses all charges, the person is acquitted of all charges, or a conviction is vacated, the court must order the records expunged automatically (effective no earlier than 60 days after the dismissal or acquittal, unless delayed up to a year at the prosecutor's request). A person arrested without charges pending may petition one year after the arrest, and the court must immediately order the arrest records expunged. Otherwise, a person whose arrest or charge did not result in a conviction may petition one year after the arrest, charge or allegation (or after a vacating decision becomes final), unless the prosecutor agrees to less time. There is no filing fee and no limit on the number of these petitions. Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9-1
Misdemeanor convictions	A person may petition to expunge a misdemeanor conviction (including a Class D or Level 6 felony reduced to a misdemeanor) five years after the date of conviction, unless the prosecutor consents in writing to an earlier date, in the circuit or superior court of the county of conviction. Sex or violent offenders and people with two or more separate felony convictions involving unlawful use of a deadly weapon are not eligible. The court must grant the petition if the waiting period has passed, no charges are pending, all fines, fees, costs and restitution are paid, and the person has had no new conviction in the previous five years. Records are sealed. Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9-2
Felony convictions	Class D or Level 6 felonies (not involving bodily injury) can be expunged eight years after conviction, and the court must grant expungement if the conditions are met; records are sealed. Other felonies not involving serious bodily injury can be expunged at the later of eight years after conviction or three years after completing the sentence, at the court's discretion; records are marked as expunged. Remaining eligible felonies (including those causing serious bodily injury, and certain offenses by elected officials) require the later of ten years after conviction or five years after the sentence, no conviction in the prior ten years, and the prosecutor's written consent. Not eligible: sex or violent offenders, felonies resulting in death, homicide, human or sexual trafficking, sex crimes, official misconduct by elected officials or judges, serious violent felon firearm possession, and people with two or more separate deadly-weapon felonies. A person may file only one expungement petition for convictions in a lifetime (petitions in different counties within 365 days count as one). Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9-3, -4, -5, -9(i)
Juvenile records	Juvenile records are not automatically expunged at 18 (except the automatic non-conviction expungements above); the person must ask the court. Records of cases that did not end in an adjudication (an arrest without court, informal adjustment or diversion, dismissal, or acquittal) can be sealed one year later. For cases with an adjudication, the person can ask the court to expunge (destroy) the records using the Indiana Expungement Request Form available from the clerk; there is no fee. Source: Ind. Code 31-39-8; Indiana Public Defender Council, How to Expunge Your Juvenile Records

How to apply	File a verified petition in a circuit or superior court in the county of conviction (or, for arrests without charges, the county of arrest); petitions get a new "XP" case number. For conviction petitions, the petitioner serves the prosecutor; for arrest petitions, the court does. Eligibility depends on the person's entire criminal history, not just the case being expunged. Victims may submit statements. Because only one conviction-expungement petition is allowed in a lifetime, all eligible convictions should be included. Forms are available from county clerks. Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9-1, -8, -9; Indiana Office of Court Services guide
Filing fee	There is no filing fee to expunge arrest records or for collateral-action requests. For conviction expungement, the petitioner pays the civil case filing fee, which the court may reduce or waive if the petitioner is indigent. Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9-1(e), 35-38-9-8(d)
Automatic (clean slate) relief	Yes, for some non-conviction records. Since July 1, 2022, when all charges are dismissed, the person is acquitted of all charges, a conviction is vacated, or a juvenile allegation is found not true or not prosecuted within a year, the court must order the records expunged without a petition. Conviction expungement always requires a petition. Source: Ind. Code 35-38-9-1(b)
Getting a copy of your criminal record	The Indiana State Police keeps Indiana criminal history records. A Limited Criminal History (felonies and misdemeanor arrests in Indiana only, matched by name and date of birth) can be requested online or by mailing the request form with a money order payable to the State of Indiana to Indiana State Police, Criminal History Limited Check, P.O. Box 6188, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188. ISP recommends its fingerprint-based National Full Criminal History for the most complete report, and offers a separate Challenge My Record process for disputing errors. Online request page linked from ISP: http://www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/isp-lch/ Source: Indiana State Police, Get Limited Criminal History

Indiana Expungement Laws: How to Clear or Seal a Criminal Record

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