Opinion ID: 4543583
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The purpose of the remedial law is realized

Text: through retroactive application to N.G. Retroactively applying the remedial law to N.G. carries out the purpose for which it was enacted. We reach this conclusion for two interrelated reasons. First, retroactive application aligns with the general objectives underlying Indiana’s expungement scheme. Our legislature enacted new expungement statutes in 2013 with the goals of providing broader expungement availability and giving ex-offenders relief from the stigma Indiana Supreme Court | Case No. 19S-XP-673 | June 24, 2020 Page 6 of 10 associated with past criminal behavior—a second chance. See Pub. L. No. 159-2013, 2013 Ind. Acts 1631; Allen v. State, 142 N.E.3d 488, 491 (Ind. Ct. App. 2020). These goals are realized by retroactively applying the remedial amendment to N.G. so that he gets his second chance. Indeed, he committed a minor felony over fourteen years ago and has been a lawabiding citizen ever since. Second, this amendment is unique. Since the legislature enacted the expungement statutes, it has modified them nearly every year. See Pub. L. No. 219-2019, §§ 5–16, 2019 Ind. Acts 2697, 2700–19; Pub. L. No. 95-2017, § 2, 2017 Ind. Acts 681, 685–86; Pub. L. No. 198-2016, §§ 671–72, 2016 Ind. Acts 2399, 2880–84; Pub. L. No. 142-2015, 2015 Ind. Acts 1263; Pub. L. No. 181-2014, §§ 3–17, 2014 Ind. Acts 2291, 2293–2312. But this particular revision is notable—it is the first since 2014 to be designated effective upon passage. This urgency shows the legislature’s desire to quickly cure the defect in the prior statute. See Boston v. State, 947 N.E.2d 436, 441–42 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). In short, we find that the remedial amendment is aimed at making expungement immediately available for individuals who (1) successfully petition for conversion of a minor felony to a misdemeanor and (2) wait five years from their felony conviction date before seeking expungement. To effectuate that purpose, we apply the remedial law retroactively to N.G.