Indiana courts processed over 10,000 expungement cases last year, marking a continued decade-long increase in residents seeking to restrict access to old arrests and convictions. In 2025, courts opened 10,156 expungement cases across the state, a 52% rise from 6,660 filings recorded in 2016, according to state court data.
Hoosiers pursue expungements for various reasons, including securing better job opportunities or housing, gaining the ability to volunteer at their children’s schools, or simply to move past a previous mistake. Carrie Hagan, who directs the Civil Practice Clinic at Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law, emphasized the significant personal impact, stating that it allows clients to "free yourself from the shame of making a mistake or a couple, that’s huge for our clients.” Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell added that the process “can profoundly alter an individual’s life.”
Despite the clear benefits, the path to expungement often presents significant obstacles. Hagan notes that many prospective clients face delays, learning they are not eligible to apply for years due to statutory waiting periods. A primary hurdle, she said, involves unpaid fines, fees, or restitution, with people often owing hundreds to thousands of dollars. Time is also a major factor, with some individuals being told they are not eligible for expungement until many years in the future.
Eligibility for expungement in Indiana depends on the type of record. Generally, a five-year waiting period is required for seeking to expunge a misdemeanor. Eligible felonies can require eight or 10 years, depending on the offense and other conditions. Judges are generally mandated to grant expungement for qualifying arrests without conviction, misdemeanors, and certain lower-level felonies when all legal conditions are met. However, for more serious eligible felonies, judges retain discretion in their decisions.
Awareness and community outreach efforts appear to be contributing to the rise in filings. Amanda Hires, an attorney in Lake County who works with the County Clerk’s office, has observed increased familiarity with the process through expungement fairs. These events, often held in partnership with organizations like Indiana Legal Services, aim to make the process less intimidating for residents. Lake County’s filings, for example, more than doubled from 232 in 2016 to 516 in 2025. Similarly, Marion County saw its filings increase from 1,804 to 2,472 over the same period, with Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell crediting social media campaigns and collaborations with legal aid groups for promoting awareness.
Expungement filings reached a peak of 11,309 in 2023, then slightly decreased to 10,077 in 2024 before rising to 10,156 in 2025. This year, from January through August, courts recorded 6,336 new filings, which is down about 11% compared to the same period in 2025. Across the state, 27,202 expungement cases have been disposed of since January 1, 2024. Of these, 25,408 were granted, while 288 were denied. The average time from filing an expungement case to its disposition was 141 days.
The Marion County Clerk’s Office indicates that the increase in expungement cases has not created an administrative burden, accounting for less than 5% of its criminal filings, according to Director of Policy and Communications Dan Goldblatt. Clerk Bell noted that many people with midlevel felony convictions may not realize their eligibility after the required waiting period.
Common cases seen by legal professionals include alcohol-related driving offenses, thefts, and drug convictions, according to Hires. Hagan's clinic also frequently assists with driving offenses and minor drug cases, noting that a suspended license can make employment difficult, potentially leading to further charges if individuals drive anyway.
Even after a successful expungement, some challenges persist. Indiana law typically seals qualifying arrests and lower-level convictions from public access, but records of some more serious felonies might remain publicly visible with an expungement notation. Both Hagan and Hires question whether this truly delivers the second chance individuals expect. Hires described this as “really a misnomer” for those hoping the record will no longer impact a job search. Furthermore, court orders do not always guarantee immediate updates across all criminal history databases, with Hires indicating it could take up to six months for the expected relief to appear in some records. The internet also poses a lasting challenge, as Hires noted, “unfortunately, Google’s there forever.” The process can also be complicated for individuals with records in multiple counties or those required to attend hearings far from their current residence, even when the prosecutor does not object.