Erasing Or Expunging Criminal Records
In January 2009, Pennsylvania enacted a new law that will allow certain people to have their criminal records erased or expunged. The new law provides that a conviction for a summary offense may be expunged if the individual has been free from arrest or prosecution for a period of five years following the conviction of a summary offense. Therefore, a person may avoid the lengthy process of attempting to obtain a pardon from the governor if their conviction was for a summary offense.
Some of the criminal offenses which would be included in this new law are retail theft, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and harassment. The law applies to all summary offenses and the aforementioned are only examples of the most typical summary citations. In some cases it may even be possible to expunge a misdemeanor or felony charge.
The expungement does not happen automatically. A petition must be filed to request the expungement. There is also the requirement of a criminal records check.
If you feel that your career, profession or licensure status may be affected by a summary criminal record, the lawyers at LISKO & ASSOCIATES, we can help you expunge that record.
For a free consultation with us regarding the expungement of a criminal record or any other legal matter please contact LISKO & ASSOCIATES in State College at 814-237-6673 or online.
For more information, please visit our Education Majors page.