WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 152

Senators Jeffries, Baldwin, Stollings, Woelfel, and Lindsay, original sponsors

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; Reported on January 16, 2019]

 

 

A BILL to repeal §61-11B-1, §61-11B-2, §61-11B-3, §61-11B-4, and §61-11B-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §61-11-26 of said code, relating generally to expungement of certain convictions; defining terms; eliminating age limitations for petitioners seeking to expunge certain misdemeanors; expanding eligibility for criminal expungement to persons convicted of certain nonviolent felonies; providing exclusions from eligibility; establishing time limitations for filing a petition for expungement; creating petition requirements and court procedure for evaluating petitions for preliminary and final orders of expungement for expungable offenses; providing for preliminary orders of expungement for a felony before one may obtain a final order of expungement; clarifying disclosure requirements with respect to the information sealed pursuant to an order of expungement, including exemptions; providing standard for inspection of sealed records; establishing fees; clarifying that an order of expungement does not reinstate eligibility for certain benefits lost due to expunged conviction; and making technical changes.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING CRIMES.

§61-11-26. Expungement of certain criminal convictions; procedures; effect.

(a) Eligibility for expungement. —

(1) Any Subject to the limitations set forth in this section, a person convicted of a misdemeanor offense or offenses arising from the same transaction committed while he or she was between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, inclusive, or series of transactions may, pursuant to the provisions of this section, petition the circuit court in which the conviction or convictions occurred for expungement of the conviction or convictions and the records associated with the conviction.  therewith. The clerk of the circuit court shall charge and collect in advance the same fee as is charged for instituting a civil action pursuant to subdivision (1), subsection (a), section eleven, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for a petition for expungement.

(2) Subject to the limitations set forth in this section, a person convicted of a nonviolent felony offense or offenses arising from the same transaction or series of transactions may, pursuant to this section, petition the circuit court in which the conviction or convictions occurred for a preliminary order of expungement of the conviction or convictions and the records associated with the conviction and, subsequently, a final order of expungement of the conviction or convictions and the records associated with the conviction if the conditions of this section are met.

(b) Expungement shall not be available for any conviction of an offense listed in subsection (i) of this section. The relief afforded by this subsection is only available to persons having no other prior or subsequent convictions other than minor traffic violations at the time the petition is filed: Provided, That at the time the petition is filed and during the time the petition is pending, petitioner may not be the subject of an arrest or any other pending criminal proceeding. No person shall be eligible for expungement pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section until one year after the conviction, completion of any sentence of incarceration or probation, whichever is later in time.

(b) Temporal requirements. —

(1) A person is not eligible for a preliminary order of expungement pursuant to subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section until one year after completion of any sentence of incarceration or completion of any period of supervision, whichever is later in time.

(2) A person is not eligible for expungement pursuant to subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section until three years after completion of any sentence of incarceration or completion of any period of supervision, whichever is later in time.

(3) A person is not eligible for permanent expungement until five years after an order is entered granting the petition of that person for preliminary order of expungement pursuant to subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Limitations on eligibility for expungement. — A person is not eligible for expungement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for convictions and the records associated with the following offenses:

(1) Any felony offense of violence against the person or any misdemeanor offense involving the intentional infliction of physical injury to a minor;

(2) Any felony offense when the victim of the crime was a minor;

(3) Any misdemeanor offense which violates the provisions of §61-8B-1 et seq. of this code, where the victim was mentally or physically incapacitated or where the petitioner was 18 years of age or older and the victim was 12 years of age or younger at the time the offense occurred;

(4) Any offense where the petitioner used or exhibited a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument;

(5) Any offense which violates §61-2-28, §61-2-9(b), or §61-2-9(c) of this code, where the victim was a spouse, a person with whom the person seeking expungement had a child in common, or with whom the person seeking expungement ever cohabited prior to the offense;

(6) Any offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance;

(7) Any offense which violates §17B-4-3 of this code;

(8) Any offense which violates §61-8-19 of this code;

(9) Any offense which violates §17E-1-13(g) of this code; and

(10) Any offense of conspiracy to commit a felony set forth in subdivisions (1) through (8), inclusive, of this subsection.

(c) (d) Content of petition for expungements. — Each petition to expunge a conviction or convictions pursuant to this section shall be verified under oath and include the following information:

(1) The Ppetitioner’s current name and all other legal names or aliases by which the petitioner has been known at any time;

(2) All of the petitioner’s addresses from the date of the offense or alleged offense in connection with which an expungement order is sought to date of the petition;

(3) The Ppetitioner’s date of birth and Social Security number;

(4) The Ppetitioner’s date of arrest, the court of jurisdiction, and criminal complaint, indictment, summons, or case number;

(5) The statute or statutes and offense or offenses for which the petitioner was charged and of which the petitioner was convicted;

(6) The names of any victim or victims, or a statement that there were no identifiable victims;

(7) Whether there is any current order for restitution, protection, restraining order, or other no contact order prohibiting the petitioner from contacting the victims or whether there has ever been a prior order for restitution, protection, or restraining order prohibiting the petitioner from contacting the victim. If there is such a current order, the petitioner shall attach a copy of that order to his or her petition;

(8) The court’s disposition of the matter and punishment sentence imposed, if any;

(9) Why The grounds on which expungement is sought, such as, including, but not limited to, employment or licensure purposes and why it should be granted;

(10) The steps the petitioner has taken since the time of the offense or offenses toward personal rehabilitation, including treatment, work, or other personal history that demonstrates rehabilitation;

(11) Whether petitioner has ever been granted expungement or similar relief regarding a criminal conviction by any court in this state, by the court of any other state, or by any federal court; and

(12) Any supporting documents, sworn statements, affidavits, or other information supporting the petition to expunge for expungement.

(d) (e) Service of petition for expungement. — The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition, with any supporting documentation, shall be served by petitioner pursuant to the rules of the trial court upon the following persons or entities:

(1) The Superintendent of the State Police;

(2) The prosecuting attorney of the county of conviction;

(3) The chief of police or other executive head of the municipal police department wherein where the offense was committed;

(4) The chief law-enforcement officer of any other law-enforcement agency which participated in the arrest of the petitioner;

(5) The superintendent or warden of any institution in which the petitioner was confined; and

(6) The circuit court, magistrate court, or municipal court which disposed of the petitioner’s criminal charge. and all other state and local government agencies whose records would be affected by the proposed expungement.

(f) The prosecutorial office that had jurisdiction over the offense or offenses for The prosecuting attorney of the county in which expungement is sought shall serve by first class mail the petition for expungement, accompanying documentation, and any proposed expungement order by first class mail to any identified victims.

(e) (g) Notice of opposition. —  

(1) Upon receipt of a petition for expungement, the Superintendent of the State Police; the prosecuting attorney of the county of conviction; the chief of police or other executive head of the municipal police department wherein the offense was committed; the chief law-enforcement officer of any other law-enforcement agency which participated in the arrest of the petitioner; the superintendent or warden of any institution in which the petitioner was confined; the magistrate court or municipal court which disposed of the petitioner’s criminal charge; all other state and local government agencies whose records would be affected by the proposed expungement Upon receipt of a petition for expungement, the persons and entities listed in subsection (e) of this section, and any other interested individual person or agency that desires to oppose the expungement shall may, within 30 days of receipt of the petition, file a notice of opposition with the court with supporting documentation and sworn statements setting forth the reasons for resisting the petition for expungement.

(2) A copy of any notice of opposition with supporting documentation and sworn statements shall be served upon the petitioner in accordance with trial court rules.

(3) The petitioner may file a reply to a notice of opposition no later than ten 30 days after service of any notice of opposition to the petition for expungement.

(f) (h) Burden of proof. — The burden of proof shall be on the petitioner seeking an order of expungement to prove by clear and convincing evidence that:

(1) That the conviction or convictions for which expungement is sought are the only convictions against the petitioner and that the conviction or convictions are not excluded from expungement by subsection (j) the provisions of this section;

(2) That the requisite time period has passed since the conviction or convictions or end of the completion of any sentence of incarceration or probation period of supervision as set forth in subsection (b) of this section;  

(3) That the petitioner has no criminal charges pending against him or her;

(4) That the expungement is consistent with the public welfare;

(5) That the petitioner has, by his or her behavior since the conviction or convictions, evidenced that he or she has been rehabilitated and is law-abiding; and

(6) Any other matter facts deemed considered appropriate or necessary by the court to make a determination regarding the petition for expungement.

(g) (i) Court procedure for petition for expungement. —

(1) Within 60 days of the filing of a petition for expungement the circuit court shall:

(1) (A) For persons eligible pursuant to subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section:

(i) Summarily grant the petition;

(2) (ii) Set the matter for hearing; or

(3) (iii) Summarily deny the petition if the court determines that the petition is insufficient or, based upon supporting documentation and sworn statements filed in opposition to the petition, the court determines that the petitioner, as a matter of law, is not entitled to expungement;

(B) For persons eligible pursuant to subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section:

(i) Summarily and preliminarily grant the petition subject to the provisions of this section;

(ii) Set the matter for hearing; or

(iii) Summarily deny the petition if the court determines that the petition is insufficient or, based upon supporting documentation and sworn statements filed in opposition to the petition, the court determines that the petitioner, as a matter of law, is not entitled to expungement.

(2) If the court enters a preliminary order of expungement, it shall allow the record to remain open for a motion for final expungement or a motion to set aside the preliminary order of expungement.

(j) (h) If the court sets the matter for hearing, all interested parties who have filed a notice of opposition shall be notified. At the hearing, the court may inquire into the background of the petitioner and shall have access to any reports or records relating to the petitioner that are on file with any law-enforcement authority, the institution of confinement, if any, and parole authority or other agency which was in any way involved with the petitioner’s arrest, conviction, sentence, and post-conviction supervision, including any record of arrest or conviction in any other state or federal court. The court may hear testimony of witnesses and any other matter the court deems considers proper and relevant to its determination regarding the petition. The court shall enter an order reflecting its ruling on the petition for expungement with appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law.

(i) No person shall be eligible for expungement of a conviction and the records associated therewith pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section for any violation involving the infliction of serious physical injury; involving the provisions of article eight-b of this chapter where the petitioner was eighteen years old, or older, at the time the violation occurred and the victim was twelve years of age, or younger, at the time the violation occurred; involving the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; of the provisions of subsection (b) or (c), section nine, article two of this chapter where the victim was a spouse, a person with whom the person seeking expungement had a child in common or with whom the person seeking expungement ever cohabitated prior to the offense; any violation of the provisions of section twenty-eight of said article; a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or a conviction for a violation of section three, article four, chapter seventeen-b of this code or section nineteen, article eight of this chapter.

(k) Preliminary and final orders of expungement for nonviolent felonies. — If the court grants the petition for expungement pursuant to subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section, the court’s order shall be preliminary and subject to a motion by the petitioner to make the order a final order of expungement.

(1) A preliminary order of expungement shall order the sealing of all court records and other records pursuant to of this section related to the nonviolent felony or felonies that are the subject of the petition. The preliminary order of expungement is subject to the following limitations:

(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (n) of this section, the custodians of records subject to sealing pursuant to this section may inspect the sealed records without obtaining an order of the court, if inspection is made for a legitimate law enforcement purpose; and

(B) The court shall vacate the preliminary order of expungement if the petitioner is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense other than a minor traffic violation subsequent to the entry of the preliminary order of expungement.

(2) A motion for a final order of expungement for a nonviolent felony or felonies may not be made until five years after the entry of the preliminary order of expungement.

(A) A motion filed under this subdivision shall be verified under oath and include information evidencing whether the petitioner:

(i) Has had any felony or misdemeanor convictions other than a minor traffic violation since entry of the preliminary order of expungement;

(ii) Has outstanding restitution orders or civil judgments representing amounts ordered for restitution against the petitioner since the entry of the preliminary order of expungement; or

(iii) Is the subject of any outstanding warrants or currently the subject of a pending criminal proceeding.

(B) Within 90 days of the filing of a motion for a final order of expungement, the circuit court shall:

(i) Summarily grant the motion;

(ii) Set the matter for hearing; or

(iii) Summarily deny the petition if the court determines that the motion is insufficient or, based upon supporting documentation and sworn statements filed in opposition to the motion, the court determines that the petitioner, as a matter of law, is not entitled to expungement. If the court determines that the petitioner is not entitled to expungement as a matter of law, the court shall also vacate the preliminary order of expungement.

(j) (l) Sealing of records. — If the court grants the petition for expungement, it shall order the sealing of all records in the custody of the court and expungement of any records in the custody of any other agency or official, including law-enforcement records. Every agency with records relating to the arrest, charge, or other matters arising out of the arrest or conviction that is ordered to expunge records shall certify to the court within 60 days of the entry of the expungement order that the required expungement has been completed. All orders enforcing the expungement procedure shall also be sealed. For the purposes of this section, "records" do not include the records of the Governor, the Legislature or the Secretary of State that pertain to a grant of pardon. Such records that pertain to a grant of pardon are not subject to an order of expungement. The amendment to this section during the fourth extraordinary session of the Legislature in the year 2009 is not for the purpose of changing existing law, but is intended to clarify the intent of the Legislature as to existing law regarding expungement.

(k) (m) Disclosure of expunged matters. –

(1) Subject to the exceptions set forth in this section, upon expungement, the proceedings in the matter shall be deemed, considered, as a matter of law, never to have occurred. The court and other agencies shall reply to any inquiry that no record exists on the matter. The person whose record is expunged shall not have to disclose the fact of the record or any matter relating thereto  to the record on an application for employment, credit, or other type of application: Provided, That any person applying for a position in which he or she would be engaging in the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, or incarceration of persons for violations of the law shall disclose any and all convictions to his or her prospective employer, regardless of whether the conviction or convictions have been expunged pursuant to this section.

(2) A person for whom an order of expungement has been entered pursuant to this section may not be found guilty of perjury or otherwise giving a false statement, under any provision of this code, because of that person’s failure to recite or acknowledge the arrest, indictment, information, trial, or conviction, as long as the person is in compliance with subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(3) Notwithstanding any provisions of this code to the contrary, a person required by state law to obtain a criminal history record check on a prospective employee are authorized to have knowledge of any convictions expunged under this section.

(l) (n) Inspection of sealed records. — Inspection of the sealed records in the court’s possession may thereafter be permitted by the court only upon a motion by the person who is the subject of the records or upon a petition filed by a prosecuting attorney that inspection and possible use of the records in question are necessary to the investigation or prosecution of a crime in this state or another jurisdiction. If the court finds that there is a legitimate reason for access and the interests of justice will be served by granting a petition to inspect the sealed record, it may be granted grant access under the terms and conditions determined by the court.

(o) Fees for filing petition for expungement and processing orders of expungement. — The clerk of the circuit court shall charge and collect in advance the same fee for a petition for expungement as is charged for instituting a civil action pursuant to §59-1-11(a)(1) of this code. A person obtaining an order of expungement pursuant to the provisions of this section shall pay a fee of $50 to the records division of the West Virginia State Police for the cost of processing the order of expungement.

(p) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person may only obtain the relief afforded by the provisions of this section once.

(q) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Court record” means an official record of a court about a proceeding that the clerk of the court or other court personnel maintains. “Court record” includes an index, a docket entry, a petition or other pleading, a memorandum, a transcription of proceedings, an electronic recording, an order, and a judgment.

(2) “Felony crime of violence against the person” means those felony offenses set forth in §61-2-1 et seq., §61-3E-1 et seq., §61-8B-1 et seq., and §61-8D-1 et seq. of this code.

(3) “Felony offenses where the victim was a minor” means felony violation of §61-3C-14b, §61-8-1 et seq., §61-8A-1 et seq., §61-8C-1 et seq., or §61-8D-1 et seq. of this code.

(4) “Records” do not include the records of the Governor, the Legislature, or the Secretary of State that pertain to a grant of pardon. Records that pertain to a grant of pardon are not subject to an order of expungement.

(5) “Seal” means removing information from public inspection in accordance with this section.

(6) “Sealing” means:

(A) For a record kept in a courthouse, removing the record to a separate, secure area to which persons who do not have a legitimate reason for access are denied access;

(B) For electronic information about a proceeding on the website maintained by a magistrate court, circuit court, or the Supreme Court of Appeals, removing the record from the public website; and

(C) For a record maintained by any law-enforcement agency, removing the record to a separate, secure area to which persons who do not have a legitimate reason for access are denied access.

(r) Statutory construction. —  Nothing in this section may be construed to allow a person obtaining relief pursuant to this section to be eligible for reinstatement of any retirement or employment benefit which he or she lost or forfeited due to the conviction or convictions expunged.

ARTICLE 11B.  CRIMINAL OFFENSE REDUCTION.

§61-11B-1. Legislative intent.

            [Repealed.]

§61-11B-2. Definitions.

            [Repealed.]

§61-11B-3. Criminal offense reduction.

[Repealed.]

§61-11B-4. Petition for reduction.

            [Repealed.]

§61-11B-5. Employer protections.

            [Repealed.]

           

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to amend the procedures and eligibility requirements for expungement of criminal records.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.