The bill amends Section 12-1-12.1 of the General Laws regarding the sealing of criminal records for individuals who have been acquitted or otherwise exonerated. It mandates that the clerk of the district court automatically seal individual counts of criminal complaints upon dismissal pursuant to the district court rule of criminal procedure 48(a), upon request of the defendant. This applies to cases or individual counts dismissed prior to January 1, 2023.

The bill also outlines the process for sealing records for individuals who are acquitted or exonerated, including notification requirements for the attorney general and the police department. Additionally, it specifies that records related to domestic violence cases will be retained for three years and cannot be sealed during that period. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5439: 12-1-12.1