This bill amends Section 12-1-12.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1, which relates to the identification and apprehension of criminals. The amendment requires the court to automatically seal the records of any criminal case that was dismissed pursuant to the district court rule of criminal procedure 48(a), without the need for a motion. The records will be sealed 90 days after the dismissal. For cases dismissed prior to January 1, 2023, the court clerk will seal the records at the request of the defendant and the sealing order will be sent to the bureau of criminal identification.

The bill also allows individuals who are acquitted or otherwise exonerated of all counts in a criminal case to file a motion for the sealing of their court records. The court will hold a hearing and if it finds that the person is entitled to the sealing of the records, it will order the sealing of the court records. The clerk of the court will then place the records under seal within 45 days of the court's order. The bill also includes provisions for cases involving charges of domestic violence and the disposition of bail money. The bill will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
600: 12-1-12.1