2013 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 37 - Consumer Protection Code
CHAPTER 20 - CONSUMER IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION
SECTION 37-20-140. Reflection of innocence of identity theft victim of crime committed using name in court records of person convicted of committing identity theft; petition for expedited judicial determination of factual innocence.

(A) If a person is convicted of unlawfully obtaining the personal identifying information of another person without the other person's authorization and using that information to commit a crime, the court records must reflect that the person whose identity was falsely used to commit the crime did not commit the crime.

(B) A person who reasonably believes that he is the victim of identity theft may petition the circuit court or have the County Office of Victims' Assistance petition the circuit court on his behalf, for an expedited judicial determination of his factual innocence, if the identity thief was arrested for and convicted of a crime under the victim's identity, or if the victim's identity has been mistakenly associated with a record of criminal conviction. A judicial determination of factual innocence made pursuant to this section may be heard and determined upon declarations, affidavits, police reports, or other material, relevant, and reliable information submitted by the parties. If the court determines that the petition is meritorious and that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the petitioner committed the offense for which the identity thief was arrested and convicted, the court shall find the petitioner factually innocent of that offense and issue an order certifying the determination and ordering the expunction of the erroneous conviction.

(C) A court may at any time vacate the determination of factual innocence if information submitted in support of the petition is found to contain material misrepresentation or fraud.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 190, Section 2, eff December 31, 2008.