The state’s Clean Slate Law, which blocks many criminal records from public view, was amended recently to allow records to be sealed even if fines and court fees remain unpaid. Offenses against the family. You are not eligible for Clean Slate limited access if you have ever been convicted of any of the following: A felony. Clean Slate is a new Pennsylvania law that expands criminal record sealingto include more types of offenses, including some first-degree misdemeanors, which can now be sealed by filing petitions. A… For others, a petition must be filed with the court. Corruption of minors. This screening service is a project of Community Legal Services, Inc. and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. If you wish to file for expungement, submit a petition (Summary Cases / Court Cases) to the court of common pleas where the offense occurred. 1974 Pa. Op. Clean Slate Law's mission is to help people move beyond their past mistakes toward a better future. Nine months into the automated sealing of cases, other states interested in replicating the model have inquired how its implementation has been going. In June 2018, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted the “Clean Slate Act” which expanded the number of the misdemeanors which could be sealed by the court and also made some misdemeanors eligible for automatic sealings. Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law, Act 56 of 2018, was passed to bring criminal record sealing to scale by the use of automation. This is especially helpful for now adults, to have their past mistakes and minor … 2572. Many legal aid programs around the state of Pennsylvania help people with record expungement or sealing. The PA Clean Slate Law, originally passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly as 2018 PA Act 56, is a first-in-the-nation law to shield some arrest records and minor criminal histories from public viewing. Do I need to disclose my sealed or expunged record(s)? Miscellaneous offenses: Cruelty to animals (not eligible for Clean Slate, but eligible for Act 5 Limited Access) – see Section 5533 of the Crimes Code Selected offenses NOT ELIGIBLE for Clean Slate, but ELIGIBLE for Act 5 Simple assaults graded as second and third degree misdemeanors Clean Slate limited access is not available for: Offenses involving danger to a person. Q: When will the new law become effective? The new legislation also expands the existing Clean Slate law by making any charges pardoned by the governor eligible for automatic sealing. Pennsylvania will start sealing millions of criminal records Friday as part of a Clean Slate bill signed into law last year. These bills impac t the rules and procedures an individual may use to have a prior conviction set aside. The law serves as a mechanism to allow those with certain convictions to move on from those convictions by sealing those convictions. The Clean Slate Act creates a way of limiting access to some criminal records without filing a court petition. 18 Pa.C.S. Any restitution owed for convictions committed is not waived. Violent and sexual offenses are usually excluded. This means that people can now petition for certain misdemeanors, such as simple … One of those is a change to the Clean Slate law making it easier for some to clear their records and get jobs. That’s the number of criminal charges in Pennsylvania that will be eligible for automatic sealing when the second phase of the state’s Clean Slate law kicks in Friday.. The clean slate law allows those who have been convicted or pleaded guilty to nonviolent crimes and who have gone 10 years without further legal trouble to seal their records. 25 P.S. Criminal history record information must be expunged when: Expungement is also available for individuals: To learn more, please consult Section 9122 of the Crimes Code and Rules 490 and 790 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. Here is the difference: although Expungements can be undertaken only when there is a dismissal or acquittal and the “Clean Slate” law can erase actual convictions, only low-grade (M3 and M2) convictions are affected, worse, these convictions are not truly expunged (or destroyed) but are simply hidden from ‘public” view. PA's Automated Clean Slate Sealing Process. Frequently Asked Questions What is Clean Slate? Pennsylvania Governor Wolf signed the “Clean Slate” Bill on June 28, 2018. Other second- and third-degree misdemeanors already can be sealed after 10 years. An individual who believes their record was not sealed due to a backlog, or was not sealed in error, may file an Act 5 petition for limited access. While law enforcement will still be able to pull up arrests and convictions, the public — including landlords and most employers — will not. Since June 28, 2019 when the automatic sealing requirement went into effect, the PA Clean Slate Law has sealed more than 47 million individual offenses in Pennsylvania – including 2.4 million that originated in Lehigh County, and just under 1.8 million Northampton County cases. You might be able to get your supervision fees waived if you cannot pay and if you file a petition with the court. Pennsylvania Governor Wolf signed the “Clean Slate” Bill on June 28, 2018. A ‘Clean Slate’ In 2018, Pennsylvania became the first state to pass a “Clean Slate” law, intended to allow people convicted of minor infractions better access to jobs and housing. Clean Slate allows minor, non-violent cases to be automatically sealed from public view after time has passed without conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor. Act 5 limited access is similar to Clean Slate, but it is not automatic. This law Pennsylvanians overcoming the detrimental effects of old criminal records. WHAT IS LIMITED ACCESS? Each court has different processes to file petitions so you should contact your local court or legal aid program for more information (see below). If you have more than one first-degree misdemeanor or have an additional felony, you will have to wait longer than 10 years. The legislation outlines new rules for criminal record expungement and allows specific convictions to be automatically set aside after a certain time. What is Clean Slate? Clean Slate Law Disclaimer by the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Neither the staff in the Center nor the staff in any Court office will be able to give you legal advice or help you fill out/complete the forms. The Clean Slate Law is composed of two parts known as Act 5 and the Clean Slate Act.1The law creates an easier process for individuals to limit access to their criminal records and broadens the scope of records eligible for limited access. The attorney for the Commonwealth consents and expungement is ordered by a court. If information regarding criminal history is requested, a person whose record has been sealed by Clean Slate may respond as if the offense did not occur. § 9122.1, as amended by 2018 Pa. HR 1419. harrisburg, pa. — Part of Pennsylvania’s new “clean slate” law is now in effect. Fines and costs are usually only owed on cases where you were convicted (pled guilty or were found guilty) or were given a diversionary program (like ARD). Clean Slate is a new Pennsylvania law that will automatically seal 30 million criminal cases, as well as expanding sealing to include more types of misdemeanors. Individuals convicted of the following offenses are NOT ELIGIBLE for Clean Slate. Box 61260Suite 1500Harrisburg, PA 17106, 601 Commonwealth Avenue Suite 1500 Harrisburg, PA 17120, 1515 Market Street Suite 1414 Philadelphia, PA 19102, © The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Follow the Unified Judicial System on Twitter, Search, view and print court docket sheets, Securely pay fines, costs, and restitution, Electronically file documents with the courts, Commonwealth Court Prothonotary's Address, Office of Children & Families in the Courts, Clean slate, expungement and limited access, See Clean Slate Ineligible convictions and eligible exclusions, Second and third degree misdemeanors, and misdemeanors punishable by two years or less in prison, Two or more offenses punishable by more than two years in prison, Four or more offenses punishable by one or more years in prison. The petition requires the applicant to attach a copy of the relevant Pennsylvania State Police Criminal record(s). Generally, no. Individuals convicted of “qualifying misdemeanors” or ungraded offenses punishable by five years or less in prison are eligible for Act 5 limited access to criminal history record information pertaining to the offenses. Go to “Docket Sheets” at this link to find instructions for how to look up your record. If you live in Philadelphia and your record is in Philadelphia, you can come to Community Legal Services for help. More information on the Clean Slate law can be found here: PA Clean Slate law It is important to note that Justifacts is providing this information as a service to our clients. Note that you can generally seek expungement for cases in which you were not convicted (e.g. Pennsylvania’s clean slate law, also known as Act 56, was approved by the Governor on June 28, 2018, after passing through the legislature with almost unanimous bipartisan support. Clean Slate Law specializes in clearing people's criminal records with pardons and expungements. Processing of cases automatically will begin on June 28, 2019. Cruelty to animals. In recognition of this reality and in seeking a better way forward, the state of Pennsylvania has passed what is known as a “Clean Slate” law. Clean Slate permits many criminal cases in PA to be sealed – taken out of public view, so they cannot be used by employers, landlords and others. The law creates an automated process for record sealing, and widens the range of eligible offenses. Some first-degree misdemeanors are now eligible for sealing. As mentioned in a previous blog, the PA Clean Slate Law automatically seals (not erases) the record of someone who took a misstep, but then stays on the “straight and narrow” for 10 years. Case dispositions have not been received or recorded within 18 months of arrest, and the court certifies that a disposition is not available or an action is not pending, A court directs that non-conviction data be expunged, Individuals reaching 21 years of age who were convicted of Section 6308 of the Crimes Code, often referred to as “underage drinking” after they turned 18, who satisfy all conditions of the sentence and petition for expungement, Reaching 70 years of age who are free of arrest or prosecution for ten years following final release from confinement or supervision, Who petition the court for expungement of summary offenses and have been free of arrest or prosecution for five years following the conviction for that offense, An unsubstantiated complaint, or a delinquency petition filed as a result, is dismissed, A written allegation filed was not approved for prosecution, Six months have passed since the individual successfully completed an informal adjustment, and no adjudication proceeding or conviction is pending, Six months have passed since final discharge from supervision, and no adjudication proceeding or conviction is pending, The individual is 18 years of age or older and six months have passed since he/she satisfied all terms and conditions of the sentence imposed for conviction of a summary offense, and since that time has not been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or adjudicated delinquent, and no adjudication proceeding or conviction is pending, The individual is 18 years of age or older and was convicted of underage drinking when he/she was under 18, and six months have passed since the individual satisfied all terms and conditions of the sentence, Five years have passed since final discharge from commitment, placement, probation or other disposition, and since that time has not been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or adjudicated delinquent, and no adjudication proceeding or conviction is pending. You can look up your own record here: HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — With the new year comes new laws taking effect. Cruelty to animals. Once your record is sealed under Clean Slate, it can generally only be viewed by the following: The vast majority of employers, landlords, schools, and the general public will NOT have access to sealed records. For information on the pardons process, visit the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons website. Clean Slate is a new Pennsylvania law that will automatically seal 30 million criminal cases, as well as expanding sealing to include more types of misdemeanors. The only way to remove criminal history record information pertaining to pardoned convictions is to file a petition for expungement in the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the conviction occurred. Tom Wolf holds a press conference to announce the Clean Slate … If you have cases that are eligible to be sealed under Clean Slate, the most important thing you can do is make sure you have paid any court fines and costs you owe. You should consult a lawyer if you want to know whether your cases can be sealed. 601 Commonwealth AvenueP.O. Clean Slate will also create an automated computer process to seal arrests that did not result in convictions within 60 days, summary convictions after 10 years, and some second and third-degree misdemeanor convictions if there are no subsequent misdemeanor or felony convictions for a period of 10 years after the time of conviction. This law Pennsylvanians overcoming the detrimental effects of old criminal records. The Clean Slate Act creates an automated process to identify and automatically seal eligible records after a … 1993). Forty million. Offenses relating to criminal homicide, including: Murder; Voluntary manslaughter; Involuntary manslaughter; Causing or aiding suicide; Drug delivery resulting in death. Before you contact CLS, please collect materials relating to your case, including letters and any recent bills you may have. Pennsylvania will start sealing millions of criminal records Friday as part of a Clean Slate bill signed into law last year. 4981-85 & 5120): These bills become effective 180 days from the day they are signed by the governor. Notably, the law now requires automatic sealing of certain records. This New Law May Help You Get Work in Pennsylvania. 3 talking about this. The state is the first in the nation to pass such a law, and Pennsylvania is being held up … © Community Legal Services of Philadelphia - 2019. You are not eligible for Clean Slate limited access if you have ever been convicted of any of the following: A felony. § 9122.1. Clean Slate limited access is not available for: Offenses involving danger to a person. The Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) is used by the Commonwealth's criminal justice agencies to access driver license and motor vehicle information, state criminal history record information maintained in the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository, the Commonwealth's central registry for Protection from Abuse orders, "hot" (stolen and wanted) files, law enforcement … We have walk-in intake Monday-Friday from 9-12 at our office at 1424 Chestnut St. We have walk-in intake Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-12 at our office at 1410 W. Erie Ave. CLS is currently accepting new clients via phone intake only. Second-degree simple assault can now be sealed after 10 years. New rules for criminal record Pennsylvania record expungement and allows specific convictions to move on from those.. 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