Expungement in Indiana: Turning Yesterday’s Mistake Into Tomorrow’s Opportunity

A criminal record in the age of instant background checks can feel like a life sentence long after probation ends. Employers, landlords, and even dating apps scan databases that never forget. Fortunately, Indiana’s “Second Chance Law” offers a structured path to sealing or expunging many convictions. The waiting periods differ by offense class, but once the petition is granted the record becomes inaccessible to the public.

The benefits reach farther than reputation. Studies show wages rise six to eleven percent within a year of expungement, partly because applicants can answer “No” to criminal-history questions. Housing stability improves too, as landlords focus on credit and rental references rather than decade-old mistakes. Even professional-licensing boards, notoriously risk-averse, must treat expunged convictions as if they never occurred unless public safety is at stake. That opens doors for nurses, real-estate agents, and commercial drivers who once feared automatic denial.

The process, however, is paperwork-heavy and unforgiving. A single missing fingerprint card or late filing fee can push your case to the back of the docket. Worse, Indiana allows you to file only once per lifetime. Errors cannot be corrected with a do-over. Careful docket research is essential, especially for clients who have lived in multiple counties; every eligible case must be included in the same petition. Prosecutors may object if restitution remains unpaid or if new charges are pending, so financial and legal housekeeping comes first.

Because the stakes are permanent, most petitioners partner with counsel who can audit records, draft affidavits, and shepherd the motion through the clerk’s office. The investment is modest compared to the lifetime return of a clean slate. If you are weighing an expungement, schedule a record check sooner rather than later. A head start today could mean a clean background check before your next promotion cycle.

Are you interested in obtaining an expungement? Contact Brinkley Law today at 317-766-1379.