(a) A person who has been charged with a misdemeanor criminal offense, a violation, a traffic violation, or a municipal ordinance violation may file a petition in the criminal division of the circuit court in the county in which the charges were filed, to expunge records relating to the charge in any of the following circumstances:
(1) When the charge is dismissed with prejudice.
(2) When the charge has been no billed by a grand jury.
(3) When the person has been found not guilty of the charge.
(4) When the charge was dismissed without prejudice more than two years ago, has not been refiled, and the person has not been convicted of any other felony or misdemeanor crime, any violation, or any traffic violation, excluding minor traffic violations, during the previous two years.
(5) When the person proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the person is a victim of human trafficking, that the person committed the misdemeanor criminal offense, violation, traffic violation, or municipal ordinance violation during the period the person was being trafficked, and that the person would not have committed the offense or violation but for being trafficked. Evidence that a person is a victim of human trafficking may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the person's trafficker was convicted of trafficking the person under Section 13A-6-152 or Section 13A-6-153.
(b) The circuit court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of a petition filed under subsection (a).
Last modified: May 3, 2021