Criminal record expungement offers a powerful legal remedy for Pennsylvania residents seeking to remove past mistakes from public view and reclaim control over their futures. The process involves petitioning courts to destroy or seal criminal records, effectively erasing evidence of arrests, charges, or convictions from official databases and making them inaccessible to employers, landlords, and licensing boards conducting background checks.
We have helped clients clear their criminal records for over 65 years, guiding them through Pennsylvania’s complex expungement procedures while maximizing their opportunities for fresh starts. At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, we understand the profound impact criminal records have on employment prospects, housing applications, and professional licenses, and we work diligently to help qualified individuals achieve the clean slate they deserve.
Understanding Pennsylvania’s Expungement Laws and Eligibility
Pennsylvania law provides several pathways for removing criminal records depending on the type of offense, disposition of charges, and time elapsed since the incident. Automatic expungement applies to certain cases, including arrests without formal charges, withdrawn charges, and acquittals after trial or dismissal.
Summary offenses may be expunged five years after conviction if you remain free of subsequent arrests or prosecutions. This category includes many traffic violations, disorderly conduct charges, and other minor infractions that can still impact employment opportunities despite their relatively minor nature.
More serious offenses require petition-based expungement with stricter eligibility requirements. Second and third-degree misdemeanors may qualify for Clean Slate removal ten years after completion of the sentence, provided you maintain a clean record during the waiting period. Certain felonies may also be eligible under limited circumstances.
Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act expanded automatic expungement to include many summary offenses and certain misdemeanors, streamlining the process for eligible cases. However, many situations still require formal petitions and court proceedings to achieve record clearance.
Offenses That Cannot Be Expunged
Pennsylvania law excludes certain serious offenses from expungement eligibility, including most violent crimes, sexual offenses, and crimes involving firearms. DUI convictions also remain permanently on your record in most circumstances, as do offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding two years.
Multiple convictions within a specified timeframe may disqualify otherwise eligible offenses from expungement. The law considers your entire criminal history when determining eligibility, making a comprehensive legal analysis essential for determining your options.
Benefits of Criminal Record Expungement
Successful expungement removes criminal records from public databases accessed by employers, landlords, and licensing agencies during routine background checks. This legal remedy can dramatically improve employment prospects, particularly in competitive job markets where criminal history creates significant disadvantages.
Professional licensing boards often deny applications or impose restrictions based on criminal history, even for relatively minor offenses. Expungement eliminates these barriers, allowing you to pursue careers in healthcare, education, finance, and other regulated industries without disclosure requirements.
Housing opportunities expand significantly after expungement, as landlords frequently reject rental applications based on criminal background checks. College admissions, financial aid eligibility, and volunteer opportunities also improve when criminal records no longer appear in standard searches.
Pennsylvania law permits individuals with expunged records to legally deny the existence of those records in most circumstances. This protection extends to employment applications, housing forms, and professional licensing questionnaires, providing genuine relief from past mistakes.
The psychological benefits of expungement often prove equally valuable. Removing the constant worry about background checks and disclosure requirements reduces stress and allows individuals to focus on building positive futures rather than managing past consequences.
The Expungement Petition Process
Pennsylvania’s expungement process requires filing formal petitions with the court that handled your original case. The petition must include specific information about charges, dispositions, and legal grounds for expungement, along with supporting documentation demonstrating eligibility.
Courts notify all relevant agencies, including police departments, district attorneys, and probation offices, about expungement petitions. These agencies may object to expungement requests, requiring hearings to resolve disputes about eligibility or public safety concerns.
Successful petitions result in court orders directing all agencies to destroy or seal records related to the specified charges. This process typically takes several months and requires follow-up to ensure compliance by all affected agencies.
Complex cases involving multiple charges, jurisdictions, or legal issues benefit from professional legal representation to navigate procedural requirements and address potential objections. The expungement process involves numerous technical requirements and deadlines:
- Obtaining certified copies of criminal records and court dispositions
- Preparing comprehensive petitions with proper legal citations and factual support
- Serving notice on prosecuting agencies and responding to any objections filed
- Attending court hearings to present evidence and argue for expungement approval
- Monitoring compliance with expungement orders to ensure complete record destruction
These procedural steps require careful attention to detail and thorough knowledge of Pennsylvania’s evolving expungement laws.
Contact Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford for Professional Expungement Assistance
Criminal record expungement requires thorough knowledge of Pennsylvania law and careful attention to procedural requirements. Our legal team includes Marc Robert Steinberg, named a Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney in Pennsylvania by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and we are the largest criminal defense firm in Montgomery and Bucks counties. We understand the life-changing benefits of successful expungement and work diligently to help qualified clients achieve the fresh starts they deserve.
We offer free initial consultations to evaluate your expungement eligibility and explain the process for clearing your criminal record. Our track record of success in expungement cases reflects our commitment to helping clients overcome past mistakes and build brighter futures. Contact us today at (215) 822-7575 or through our contact form to discuss how we can help you take advantage of Pennsylvania’s expungement opportunities and reclaim control over your future.
Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C.
Pennsylvania Attorney's
July 28, 2025
