Requirements to apply for a certificate of eligibility to expunge conviction.

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  • (1) An individual convicted of an offense may apply to the bureau for a certificate of eligibility to expunge the record of conviction as provided in this section.
  • (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), an individual is not eligible to receive a certificate of eligibility from the bureau if:
    • (a) the conviction for which expungement is sought is:
      • (i) a capital felony;
      • (ii) a first degree felony;
      • (iii) a violent felony as defined in Subsection 76-3-203.5(1)(c)(i);
      • (iv) felony automobile homicide;
      • (v) a felony conviction described in Subsection 41-6a-501(2);
      • (vi) a registerable sex offense as defined in Subsection 77-41-102(17); or
      • (vii) a registerable child abuse offense as defined in Subsection 77-43-102(2);
    • (b) a criminal proceeding is pending against the petitioner; or
    • (c) the petitioner intentionally or knowingly provides false or misleading information on the application for a certificate of eligibility.
  • (3) The eligibility limitation described in Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to a conviction for a qualifying sexual offense, as defined in Subsection 76-3-209(1), if, at the time of the offense, the individual who committed the offense was at least 14 years old, but under 18 years old, unless the conviction occurred in district court after the individual was:
    • (a) charged by criminal information under Section 80-6-502 or 80-6-503; and
    • (b) bound over to district court under Section 80-6-504.
  • (4) A petitioner seeking to obtain expungement for a record of conviction is not eligible to receive a certificate of eligibility from the bureau until all of the following have occurred:
    • (a) the petitioner has paid in full all fines and interest ordered by the court related to the conviction for which expungement is sought;
    • (b) the petitioner has paid in full all restitution ordered by the court under Section 77-38b-205; and
    • (c) the following time periods have elapsed from the date the petitioner was convicted or released from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever occurred last, for each conviction the petitioner seeks to expunge:
      • (i) 10 years in the case of a misdemeanor conviction of Subsection 41-6a-501(2) or a felony conviction of Subsection 58-37-8(2)(g);
      • (ii) seven years in the case of a felony;
      • (iii) five years in the case of any class A misdemeanor or a felony drug possession offense;
      • (iv) four years in the case of a class B misdemeanor; or
      • (v) three years in the case of any other misdemeanor or infraction.
  • (5) When determining whether to issue a certificate of eligibility, the bureau may not consider:
    • (a) a petitioner's pending or previous:
      • (i) infraction;
      • (ii) traffic offense;
      • (iii) minor regulatory offense; or
      • (iv) clean slate eligible case that was automatically expunged in accordance with Section 77-40-114; or
    • (b) a fine or fee related to an offense described in Subsection (5)(a).
  • (6) The bureau may not issue a certificate of eligibility if, at the time the petitioner seeks a certificate of eligibility, the bureau determines that the petitioner's criminal history, including previously expunged convictions, contains any of the following, except as provided in Subsection (9):
    • (a) two or more felony convictions other than for drug possession offenses, each of which is contained in a separate criminal episode;
    • (b) any combination of three or more convictions other than for drug possession offenses that include two class A misdemeanor convictions, each of which is contained in a separate criminal episode;
    • (c) any combination of four or more convictions other than for drug possession offenses that include three class B misdemeanor convictions, each of which is contained in a separate criminal episode; or
    • (d) five or more convictions other than for drug possession offenses of any degree whether misdemeanor or felony, each of which is contained in a separate criminal episode.
  • (7) The bureau may not issue a certificate of eligibility if, at the time the petitioner seeks a certificate of eligibility, the bureau determines that the petitioner's criminal history, including previously expunged convictions, contains any of the following:
    • (a) three or more felony convictions for drug possession offenses, each of which is contained in a separate criminal episode; or
    • (b) any combination of five or more convictions for drug possession offenses, each of which is contained in a separate criminal episode.
  • (8) If the petitioner's criminal history contains convictions for both a drug possession offense and a non drug possession offense arising from the same criminal episode, that criminal episode shall be counted as provided in Subsection (6) if any non drug possession offense in that episode:
    • (a) is a felony or class A misdemeanor; or
    • (b) has the same or a longer waiting period under Subsection (4) than any drug possession offense in that episode.
  • (9) If at least 10 years have elapsed from the date the petitioner was convicted or released from incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever occurred last, for all convictions, then each eligibility limit defined in Subsection (6) shall be increased by one.
  • (10) If, prior to May 14, 2013, the petitioner has received a pardon from the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, the petitioner is entitled to an expungement order for all pardoned crimes pursuant to Section 77-27-5.1.







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