One form of post-conviction relief in Indiana is requesting to have your record sealed. People sometimes believe that this means their criminal record is being erased, but that is not actually the case.
Instead, sealing a criminal record means that it is not available to the public. Law enforcement agencies will still have copies of that record and can access them in some situations. But a public background check would no longer show the criminal record.
How can this be helpful?
Sealing a record can be very helpful when it comes to employment. Many people find it difficult to get a job even after they have served their sentence, because employers run background checks and may choose not to hire someone who has a criminal record. Having the record sealed can open doors to employment that may not have existed otherwise.
Even though law enforcement agencies can still access the record, that likely will not have an impact on someone’s day-to-day life unless they are accused of future criminal activity. As long as someone avoids arrest moving forward, sealing the record allows them to put the entire event behind them so that it does not continue to create additional consequences.
This can also apply to other situations where a background check is used, such as renting an apartment or applying for certain types of financing.
Your options for post-conviction relief
If you have already been convicted of a crime, it is natural to assume that the record is going to last forever and have a long-term impact on your life. That is why it is so important to know that there are other options available, including having that record sealed. It can help to work with an experienced attorney to determine what steps to take at this critical time.