Fixes considered on Indiana’s ‘second-chance’ law

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana legislators are considering tweaks to a new law that gives people with old low-level criminal convictions a chance to have those records sealed by a judge.

The law that took effect is July is meant to give those who’ve turned their lives around a second chance, but some courts have faced confusion in implementing the law.

The Journal Gazette reports that one proposed change discussed Thursday by a legislative committee would make a person’s petition to close records confidential from the public.

Hoosier State Press Association director Steve Key argued that such petitions should become confidential only after an order by a judge is issued. Committee chairman Sen. Brent Steele of Bedford said he agreed.