Sealing records after dismissal or acquittal: Petition; notice; hearing; order.
1. If a person has been arrested for alleged criminal conduct and the charges are dismissed or such person is acquitted of the charges, the person may petition:
(a) The court in which the charges were dismissed, at any time after the date the charges were dismissed; or
(b) The court in which the acquittal was entered, at any time after the date of the acquittal,
Ê for the sealing of all records relating to the arrest and the proceedings leading to the dismissal or acquittal.
2. A petition filed pursuant to this section must:
(a) Be accompanied by a current, verified record of the criminal history of the petitioner received from the local law enforcement agency of the city or county in which the petitioner appeared in court;
(b) Include a list of any other public or private agency, company, official and other custodian of records that is reasonably known to the petitioner to have possession of records of the arrest and of the proceedings leading to the dismissal or acquittal and to whom the order to seal records, if issued, will be directed; and
(c) Include information that, to the best knowledge and belief of the petitioner, accurately and completely identifies the records to be sealed.
3. Upon receiving a petition pursuant to this section, the court shall notify the law enforcement agency that arrested the petitioner for the crime and:
(a) If the charges were dismissed or the acquittal was entered in a district court or justice’s court, the prosecuting attorney for the county; or
(b) If the charges were dismissed or the acquittal was entered in a municipal court, the prosecuting attorney for the city.
Ê The prosecuting attorney and any person having relevant evidence may testify and present evidence at the hearing on the petition.
4. If, after the hearing, the court finds that there has been an acquittal or that the charges were dismissed and there is no evidence that further action will be brought against the person, the court may order sealed all records of the arrest and of the proceedings leading to the acquittal or dismissal which are in the custody of the court, of another court in the State of Nevada or of a public or private company, agency or official in the State of Nevada.
Last modified: February 25, 2006