PETITION TO SEAL OR EXPUNGE; HUMAN TRAFFICKING

(a) Requirements of Petition.

(1) A person who is a victim of human trafficking may petition for the expunction of a criminal history record pursuant to section 943.0583, Florida Statutes. The petition shall be in writing and filed with the clerk of court in any count in the circuit in which the petitioner was arrested. The petition need not be filed in the court where the petitioner’s criminal proceeding originally occurred. The petition must be initiated by the petitioner with due diligence after the victim has ceased to be a victim of human trafficking or has sought services for victims of human trafficking. The petition to expunge is complete only when accompanied by:

(A) the petitioner’s sworn statement attesting that the petitioner is eligible for such an expunction to the best of his or her knowledge or belief; and

(B) official documentation of the petitioner’s status as a victim of human trafficking, if any exists. The petition to expunge need not be accompanied by a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The completed petition, sworn statement, and any other official documentation of the petitioner’s status as a victim of human trafficking, shall be served on the prosecuting attorney and the arresting authority; however, it is not necessary to make any agency other than the state a party.

(b) State’s Response; Evidence. The prosecuting attorney and arresting agency may respond to the petition. Official documentation of the victim’s status creates a presumption that his or her participation in the offense was a result of having been a victim of human trafficking but is not required for granting a petition under section 943.0583, Florida Statutes. A determination made without such official documentation must be made by a showing of clear and convincing evidence. Determination of the petition under section 943.0583, Florida Statutes, should be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(c) Written Order. If the petition is granted, the court shall enter its written order so stating and further setting forth the records and agencies or departments to which it is directed.

(d) Clerk’s Duties.

(1) On the receipt of an order sealing or expunging nonjudicial criminal history records, the clerk shall:

(A) furnish a certified copy thereof to each agency or department named therein except the court;

(B) certify copies of the order to the appropriate prosecuting attorney and the arresting agency; and

(C) certify a copy of the order to any other agency which the records of the court reflect has received the criminal history record from the court.

(2) In regard to the official records of the court, including the court file of the cause, the clerk shall:

(A) remove from the official records of the court, excepting the court file, all entries and records subject to the order, provided that, if it is not practical to remove the entries and records, the clerk shall make certified copies thereof and then expunge by appropriate means the original entries and records;

(B) seal the entries and records, or certified copies thereof, together with the court file and retain the same in a nonpublic index, subject to further order of the court (see Johnson v. State, 336 So. 2d 93 (Fla. 1976)); and

(C) in multi-defendant cases, make a certified copy of the contents of the court file that shall be sealed under subdivision (d)(2)(B). Thereafter, all references to the petitioner shall be expunged from the original court file.