Clearing The Path Forward
Clearing the path to the future begins with analyzing exactly what is in your criminal history record information (arrest records, criminal offenses, minor offenses). Criminal charges without dispositions, misdemeanors without criminal convictions, misdemeanor convictions, and felony convictions are all handled differently. That is why everything begins with getting a PA criminal record report. Then, we can determine what can be cleared with expungements, record-sealing, and pardons and can work to clear your PA criminal record.
Expungements in PA
Expungements can be filed under the authority of Pennsylvania’s expungement statute – 18 PACSA 9122. This statute contains a list of what can be erased through the filing of an expungement petition. It is NOT meant to erase misdemeanor or felony convictions, which must be reviewed for possible record-sealing or applying for a pardon.
EXPUNGEMENT PETITIONS & WHAT THEY CAN ERASE
- Summary Expungement in PA: This petition erases a summary conviction from someone’s record. House Bill 1543 creates the right to expunge a single summary offense when five years have elapsed since the date of conviction – when there is no criminal prosecutions for the following five years. The most issued summary citations that affect young people are retail theft, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness – these would all be eligible for expungement after five years.
- Juvenile Record Expungement in PA: This petition is filed to remove juvenile court prosecutions for misdemeanors or felonies after the offender turns 18 (with the consent of the District Attorney), or after five years, with no intervening criminal conduct. See our post about clearing a juvenile’s criminal record in PA.
- ARD Expungement in PA: Some crimes, like Driving Under the Influence (1st offense) are put into a program called ARD. ARD allows someone to do probation without conviction. Since there is not a conviction, after successful completion of the program, the criminal history showing that the crime was charged can be erased.
- Section 17 Expungement in PA: Section 17 is a special diversionary program, much like ARD. It allows one to complete probation without a conviction. It is typically presented for possession of marijuana or paraphernalia. If you received a Section 17 disposition, your record can be cleared.
- Charges that were withdrawn, dismissed or Nol-prossed in PA: Charges that were brought that did not result in a conviction may still be on your criminal history record information report. These may be eligible for expungement.
- Limited Expungement – Record Sealing in PA: Act 5 of 2015 allows smaller non-violent misdemeanors can be ‘sealed’ after 10 years of law-abiding behavior with certain limitations. While the police will be able to see the convictions, they do not have to be disclosed to employers and employers should not be able to find them.
- Convictions if you are over 70 years of age in PA: Seniors do NOT have to go through the Pardon process. Any felony or misdemeanor conviction can be expunged if there has been no criminal supervision in the preceding 10 years.
- Charges that have been pardoned in PA: If you have received a Pardon from the Governor of Pennsylvania, the charges become expungeable.
PA Expungement FAQs
Pardons in PA
We have a detailed blog post on pardon applications that goes into the details of the process and answers frequently asked questions (FAQs).