The bill amends the Criminal Record Expungement Act to establish a clear process for individuals charged with a "domestic violence crime" to request the expungement of their public and arrest records following an acquittal or dismissal with prejudice. The definition of "domestic violence crime" is expanded to include specific offenses such as assault and battery against a household member, as well as violations of protection orders. The bill mandates that expungement requests be processed within thirty days and prohibits any fees from being charged to individuals for submitting these requests or for the expungement process itself.

Additionally, the bill outlines the procedure for individuals seeking expungement, requiring them to submit a written request to the court that issued the acquittal or dismissal. Upon receiving the request, the court must order the expungement and notify relevant law enforcement agencies and courts. The bill also clarifies that once an expungement order is issued, the proceedings will be treated as if they never occurred, although individuals must disclose any arrest or conviction records when applying for certain employment or financial qualifications, except for records related to domestic violence crimes.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 29-3A-2, 29-3A-4, 29-3A-7