2015 -- H 5818

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LC001955

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, Maldonado, Lally, Regunberg, and Barros

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 12-1.3-2 and 12-1.3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1.3

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entitled "Expungement of Criminal Records" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-1.3-2. Motion for expungement. -- (a) Any person who is a first offender may file a

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motion for the expungement of all records and records of conviction for a felony or misdemeanor

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by filing a motion in the court in which the conviction took place, provided that no person who

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has been convicted of a crime of violence shall have his or her records and records of conviction

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expunged.

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     (b) Any person who has been convicted of more than one misdemeanor, but fewer than

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six (6) misdemeanors, and has not been convicted of a felony, may file a motion for the

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expungement of any or all of those misdemeanors in the court in which the convictions took

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place, provided that convictions for offenses under chapter 29 of title 12, § 31-27-2, or § 31-27-

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2.1 are not eligible for, and may not be expunged pursuant to this subsection.

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      (b)(c) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

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expungement of records relating to a misdemeanor conviction after five (5) years from the date of

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the completion of his or her sentence.

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      (c)(d) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

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expungement of records relating to a felony conviction after ten (10) years from the date of the

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completion of his or her sentence.

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     (e) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

 

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expungement of his or her records relating to misdemeanor convictions after ten (10) years from

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the date of the completion of his or her last sentence.

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     12-1.3-3. Motion for expungement -- Notice -- Hearing -- Criteria for granting. -- (a)

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Any person filing a motion for expungement of the records of his or her conviction pursuant to §

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12-1.3-2 shall give notice of the hearing date set by the court to the department of the attorney

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general and the police department which originally brought the charge against the person at least

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ten (10) days prior to that date.

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      (b) The court, after the hearing at which all relevant testimony and information shall be

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considered, may in its discretion order the expungement of the records of conviction of the person

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filing the motion if it finds:

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      (1) In cases of expungement sought pursuant to §12-1.3-2(a),That that in the five (5)

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years preceding the filing of the motion, if the conviction was for a misdemeanor, or in the ten

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(10) years preceding the filing of the motion if the conviction was for a felony, the petitioner has

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not been convicted nor arrested for any felony or misdemeanor, there are no criminal proceedings

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pending against the person, and he or she has exhibited good moral character;

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     (2) In cases of expungement sought pursuant to §12-1.3-2(b), and it has been ten (10)

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years from the date of the completion of his or her last sentence, and in the interim the petitioner

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has not been convicted nor arrested for any felony or misdemeanor, there are no criminal

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proceedings pending against the person, and he or she has exhibited good moral character.

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     (2)(3) That the petitioner's rehabilitation has been attained to the court's satisfaction and

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the expungement of the records of his or her conviction is consistent with the public interest.

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      (c) If the court grants the motion, it shall, after payment by the petitioner of a one

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hundred dollar ($100) fee to be paid to the court order all records and records of conviction

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relating to the conviction expunged and all index and other references to it deleted. A copy of the

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order of the court shall be sent to any law enforcement agency and other agency known by either

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the petitioner, the department of the attorney general, or the court to have possession of the

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records. Compliance with the order shall be according to the terms specified by the court.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT

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     This act would allow for the potential expungement of up to six (6) misdemeanors,

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assuming the defendant has no felony convictions, ten (10) years after the last sentence has

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expired and no arrests or convictions within that ten (10) year time period. This act would not

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apply to convictions for driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breathalyzers (charged as

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criminal offenses) or to any domestic violence offenses.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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