2025 -- H 5647

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LC001514

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cruz, Casimiro, Stewart, Solomon, Potter, Ajello, J.
Lombardi, and Slater

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

     12-1.3-2. Motion for expungement.

     (a) Any person who is a first offender may file a motion for the expungement of all records

and records of conviction for a felony or misdemeanor by filing a motion in the court in which the

conviction took place; provided, that no person who has been convicted of a crime of violence shall

have his or her records and records of conviction expunged; and provided, that all outstanding

court-imposed or court-related fees, fines, costs, assessments, charges, and/or any other monetary

obligations have been paid, unless such amounts are reduced or waived by order of the court.

     (b) Notwithstanding § 12-1.3-1(3) (“first offender”), any person who has been convicted

of more than one misdemeanor, but fewer than six (6) misdemeanors, and has not been convicted

of a felony may file a motion for the expungement of any or all of those misdemeanors by filing a

motion in the court in which the convictions took place; provided that convictions for offenses

under chapter 29 of title 12, § 31-27-2 or § 31-27-2.1 are not eligible for and may not be expunged

under this subsection.

     (c) Subject to subsection (a), a person may file a motion for the expungement of records

relating to a misdemeanor conviction after five (5) years from the date of the completion of his or

her sentence.

     (d) Any person who has been convicted of more than one felony and/or more than one

misdemeanor, and who has not been convicted of a felony that is considered a crime of violence,

as defined in § 12-1.3-1, may file a motion for the expungement of any or all of those felonies

and/or misdemeanors in the court in which the convictions took place; provided that, convictions

for offenses under chapter 29 of title 12 and convictions under §§ 31-27-2 or 31-27-2.1 are not

eligible for and may not be expunged under this subsection.

     (d)(e) Subject to subsection (a), a person may file a motion for the expungement of records

relating to a felony conviction after ten (10) years from the date of the completion of his or her

sentence.

     (e)(f) Subject to § 12-19-19(c), and without regard to subsections (a) through (c) of this

section, a person may file a motion for the expungement of records relating to a deferred sentence

upon its completion, after which the court will hold a hearing on the motion.

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

expungement of records relating to misdemeanor convictions after ten (10) years from the date of

the completion of their last sentence.

     (g)(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) through (f) of this section, a person

may file a motion for the expungement of records related to an offense that has been decriminalized

subsequent to the date of their conviction, after which the court will hold a hearing on the motion

in the court in which the original conviction took place.

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

for the expungement of records related to multiple felony and/or multiple misdemeanor convictions

after ten (10) years from the date of the completion of their last sentence.

     12-1.3-3. Motion for expungement — Notice — Hearing — Criteria for granting.

     (a) Any person filing a motion for expungement of the records of his or her conviction

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

attorney general and the police department that originally brought the charge against the person at

least ten (10) days prior to that date.

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

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

filing the motion if it finds:

     (1)(i) That in the five (5) years preceding the filing of the motion, if the conviction was for

a misdemeanor, or in the ten (10) years preceding the filing of the motion, if the conviction was for

a felony, the petitioner has not been convicted nor arrested for any felony or misdemeanor; there

are no criminal proceedings pending against the person; that the person does not owe any

outstanding court-imposed or court-related fees, fines, costs, assessments, or charges, unless such

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amounts are reduced or waived by order of the court; and he or she has exhibited good moral

character;

     (ii) That after a hearing held under the provisions of § 12-19-19(c), the court finds that the

person has complied with all of the terms and conditions of the deferral agreement including, but

not limited to, the payment in full of any court-ordered fines, fees, costs, assessments, and

restitution to victims of crimes; there are no criminal proceedings pending against the person; and

he or she has established good moral character. Provided, that no person who has been convicted

of a crime of violence shall have their records relating to a deferred sentence expunged; or

     (iii) Subject only to §§ 12-1.3-2(b), (d) and (f) (g), that in the ten (10) years preceding the

filing of the motion, if the convictions were for multiple misdemeanors, the petitioner has not been

convicted nor arrested for any felony or misdemeanor; there are no criminal proceedings pending

against the person; and they have exhibited good moral character; and, provided that convictions

for offenses under chapter 29 of title 12, § 31-27-2 or § 31-27-2.1 are not eligible and may not be

expunged under this subsection; or

     (iv) That in the ten (10) years preceding the filing of the motion if the convictions were for

multiple felonies and for multiple misdemeanors, the petitioner has not been convicted nor arrested

for any felony or misdemeanor, there are no criminal proceedings pending against the person, and

they have exhibited good moral character. The hearing judge shall consider the person’s

background, employment, family ties, involvement in the community and other relevant

considerations, and make a determination upon the preponderance of the evidence that the person

seeking expungement exhibits good moral character. No one factor that the hearing judge considers

shall be determinative; provided, however, the judge shall consider the person’s overall progress

since their conviction. The judge may, but is not required to, order and/or request that the

department of probation and parole provide a copy of the person’s probation/parole file for review

before making a final determination.

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

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

     (c) If the court grants the motion, it shall order all records and records of conviction relating

to the conviction expunged and all index and other references to it removed from public inspection.

A copy of the order of the court shall be sent to any law enforcement agency and other agency

known by either the petitioner, the department of the attorney general, or the court to have

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

the court.

     (d) The defendant shall be advised at the hearing that any and all bail money relating to a

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case that remains on deposit and is not claimed at the time of expungement shall be escheated to

the state’s general treasury in accordance with chapter 12 of title 8.

     (e) In cases of expungement sought pursuant to § 12-1.3-2(g), the court shall, after a hearing

at which it finds that all conditions of the original criminal sentence have been completed, and any

and all fines, fees, and costs related to the conviction have been paid in full, order the expungement

without cost to the petitioner. At the hearing, the court may require the petitioner to demonstrate

that the prior criminal conviction would qualify as a decriminalized offense under current law. The

demonstration may include, but is not limited to, an affidavit signed by the petitioner attesting to

the fact that the prior conviction qualifies as a decriminalized offense under current Rhode Island

law.

     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 OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

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     This act would permit those individuals convicted of multiple felonies and misdemeanors

to have their records expunged and provide criteria for the court to consider in determining whether

the person is of good moral character.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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