Clean Slate Law

Here are some more details about the two different processes:

Expungement

• Permanently removes the certain criminal records from the Criminal History Records Database.
• The record no longer exists.
• What can be expunged:

• • Non-conviction charges (e.g. dismissed, withdrawn, nolle prossed, not guilty, etc.).
  • ARD/Section 17 diversion programs if you complete the program and pay the fine.
  • Summary convictions if you have a five-year arrest free period after the conviction.
  • Summary convictions if you were under 18 at the time of the offense, you are now over 18, AND six months have passed since you completed the sentence and paid the fine.
  • Any conviction if you are at least 70 years old and have a ten-year arrest free period since your conviction.
  • Some juvenile cases.

Limited Access Orders

• Seals the criminal record in the Criminal History Records Database.
• The record continues to exist but it may not be viewed by the public including employers, landlords, or creditors.
• Disclosure is limited to criminal justice agencies such as police departments, state police, district attorneys and the attorney general.
• Disclosure is also permitted in certain child custody cases and child abuse cases.
• What can be sealed:
  • Certain misdemeanors of the first, second and third degree.
  • Ungraded misdemeanors punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 5 years.
• A petitioner is must have:
  • Been free of conviction for any criminal offenses other than summary offenses for the last 10 years.
  • Satisfied or paid all court ordered financial obligations related to the criminal offense(s).
• Certain criminal offenses are ineligible for Limited Access Orders, including:
  • An offense involving danger to a person.
  • Offenses against the family.
  • Offenses involving firearms or other dangerous articles.
  • Sexual offenses that require registration as a sex offender.
  • Conspiracy, attempt or solicitation to commit any of these offenses.
• The Process for sealing records is:
• The limited access petitions must be filed with the Allegheny County Court Administrators Office.
• Within 10 days of receiving the petition, the court must notify the Allegheny County District Attorney, who has 30 days to review the petition and file any objections. If the district attorney objects, a hearing will be held to determine if the petition should be granted.
• If the district attorney does not object, the petition may be granted without a hearing.
• Once the petition is granted, all the criminal justice agencies that have your criminal records on file will be notified that access to your records has been limited.
• The filing fee in Allegheny County filing in $232, which includes state fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Act 56 of 2018 – Limited Access Petitions & Clean Slate Limited Access

What is a limited access petition?

A limited access petition is a court order prohibiting disclosure of your criminal record in most cases.  You must file the court petition asking to block disclosure of your record.  The petition does not remove your criminal record entirely.  If you are granted a limited access petition, your criminal record can only be released to:

• A criminal justice agency.
• A state licensing agency for use only if your criminal record is relevant to the issuance of a professional or occupational license.
• The PA Department of Human Services and county children and youth agencies where it is relevant to their duties related to child protective services.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible for a limited access petition if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You were convicted of a misdemeanor or an ungraded offense carrying a maximum penalty of no more than five years in prison.The following misdemeanors of the first degree are ineligible:
  • An offense involving danger to a person.
  • Offenses against the family.
  • Offenses involving firearms or other dangerous articles.
  • Sexual offenses that require registration as a sex offender.
  • Conspiracy, attempt or solicitation to commit any of these offenses.
• You have been free from conviction for 10 years of any offense punishable by a year or more in prison.
• You have paid all court-ordered financial obligations associated with your sentence.

Who is not eligible?

Limited access petitions are not available for felonies.  You are not eligible for a limited access petition if:

• You have ever been convicted of murder, a felony of the first degree or any felony punishable by 20 years or more in prison.
• You have been convicted within the last 20 years of:
  • A felony or an offense punishable by imprisonment of seven or more years involving danger to a person, firearms, offenses against the family or sexual offenses require registration; or
  • Four or more offenses punishable by imprisonment of two years or more.
• You have been convicted within the last 15 years of:
  • Indecent exposure, sexual intercourse with an animal, failure to register as a sex offender, weapons, abuse of a corpse or paramilitary training; or
  • Two or more offenses punishable by more than two years in prison.

What is the process to get a limited access petition?

1. The limited access petitions can be filed at the county courthouse with the clerk of courts in the county where your conviction occurred beginning December 26, 2018.
2. Within 10 days of receiving the petition, the court must notify the district attorney, who has 30 days from that point to file an objection to the petition.If the district attorney objects, a hearing will be held to determine if the petition will be granted.
3. If the district attorney does not object, the petition will be granted without a hearing.
4. Once the petition is granted, all the criminal justice agencies that have your criminal records on file will be notified that access to your records has been limited.

What does it cost?

There is a state fee of $132, in addition to a possible county fee (depending on the county), payable to the county clerk of courts when filing a limited access petition. 

What does the new Clean Slate limited access law do?

Act 56 of 2018, known as the Clean Slate law, created a second way of limiting access to some criminal records without filing a court petition.  Under the new law, access to the records is automatically blocked if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You were convicted of a misdemeanor of the third degree, a misdemeanor of the second degree, or an ungraded offense which carries a maximum penalty of no more than two years;
• You have been free from conviction for 10 years for any offense punishable by one year or more in prison; and
• You have paid all court-ordered financial obligations associated with your sentence.

Additionally, Clean Slate limited access is automatically granted if:

• You were charged with an offense, but not convicted; or
• Ten years have elapsed since a summary conviction and all court-ordered obligations of the sentence have been fulfilled.

Who is not eligible under for Clean Slate limited access?

Clean Slate limited access is not available for:

• Offenses involving danger to a person.
• Offenses against the family.
• Offenses involving firearms and other dangerous articles.
• Sexual offenses and sex offender registration.
• Cruelty to animals.
• Corruption of minors.

You are not eligible for Clean Slate limited access if you have ever been convicted of any of the following:

• A felony.
• Two or more offenses punishable by imprisonment of more than two years (generally first-degree misdemeanors and more serious offenses).
• Four or more offenses that each carry a maximum penalty of at least one year.
• Indecent exposure.
• Sexual intercourse with an animal.
• Failure to comply with sexual registration requirements.
• Weapons or implements for escape.
• Abuse of a corpse.
• Paramilitary training.
• A qualifying offense committed at the same time as a separate offense that is punishable by five or more years in prison.

How does the new law impact juvenile records?

Act 56 of 2018 prohibits a child’s court records and files from being disclosed to the public unless:

• The child was 14 or older and was adjudicated delinquent for an offense – or conspiring or attempting to commit an offense – that would have constituted a serious violent offense as an adult.
• A delinquency petition has been filed alleging the child committed a violent offense and the child has previously been adjudicated delinquent for a serious violent offense.

When will my records be closed under Clean Slate limited access?

Act 56 of 2018 takes effect for newly eligible offenses on June 28, 2019.  Court administrators must send all eligible records of charges and convictions to the Pennsylvania State Police within 30 days of completion of the sentence and payment of court-ordered obligations.

Court personnel and the Pennsylvania State Police have until June 28, 2020, to identify and complete the processing of previous records eligible for Clean Slate limited access.

What if my criminal record is denied for Clean Slate limited access?

You can file a limited access petition at the county courthouse.