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 establishes that records of criminal cases dismissed under district court rule of criminal procedure 48(a) will be sealed administratively by the court clerk, upon request of the defendant, following the conclusion of the matter in district court, starting October 1, 2026. The sealing order must be sent electronically by the clerk of the court to the bureau of criminal identification within five days of the entry of the order and shall be carried out within ninety days of the order.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for individuals who are acquitted or exonerated to file a motion for sealing their court records, which includes notifying the Attorney General and the police department prior to the hearing. If the court grants the motion, the clerk must seal the records within 45 days. The bill also retains records for three years in cases involving domestic violence charges, prohibiting their expungement or sealing during that period. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
7555: 12-1-12.1