Criminal Records Expungement, Record Sealing & Pardons

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This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Employment Issues for Ex-Offenders, including Criminal Records Expungement & Pardons in Pennsylvania.

Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.

Get a Clean Slate in Pennsylvania - MyCleanSlatePA.com

This website, MyCleanSlatePA.com provides comprehensive information on Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law that provides for automated sealing of certain criminal records. Information is also provided on how to obtain legal help in dealing with your criminal record.

PardonMePA.org - Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects

This website from the Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects is designed to help you find a local Pardon Project to assist you in applying for a pardon. Pardon Projects are countywide efforts that link together community organizations (called “Pardon Hubs”) that have been trained in the pardon form and process. They also have a list of volunteers (called “Pardon Coaches”) ready to help people fill out the application. The site also provides information on pardons and how to apply for one by yourself.

Clean Slate - Criminal Record Sealing

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law permits many criminal cases in Pennsylvania to be sealed – taken out of public view - so they cannot be used by employers, landlords and others. This classroom provides information on how the law works and how to get help in obtaining a Clean Slate.

Expungement of Criminal Records

Expungement is when a criminal record is completely erased. When a record is expunged, no one—not even the police or courts—have access to it. The classroom provides information on when and how a criminal record can be expunged or removed from your personal record.

Get a Clean Slate in Pennsylvania - MyCleanSlatePA.com

This website, MyCleanSlatePA.com provides comprehensive information on Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law that provides for automated sealing of certain criminal records. Information is also provided on how to obtain legal help in dealing with your criminal record.

Clean Slate Review

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law permits many criminal cases in Pennsylvania to be sealed – taken out of public view - so they cannot be used by employers, landlords and others. Use this form to submit your information for review by a volunteer attorney to see if you qualify to have your criminal record sealed under the Clean Slate Law. (April 2019)

Getting Your Adult Criminal Record Expunged

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on how to get an adult criminal record expunged in Pennsylvania, with specific directions for Allegheny County. [PDF] (March 2011)

Forms - Pennsylvania Courts

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. ‌BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: ‌(ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)

Erasing Your Criminal Record: How to Get a Pardon in Pennsylvania

A pardon is an act by the Governor of Pennsylvania that erases a conviction from your criminal record. It is generally the only way that felony and misdemeanor convictions can be eliminated. This guide from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia tells you how to get a pardon in Pennsylvania. [PDF] (February 2016)

Getting a Conviction Pardoned

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on getting a pardon in Pennsylvania. [PDF] (September 2010)

Getting Your Juvenile Record Expunged (Allegheny County)

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on how to get an adult criminal record expunged in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

How to Fix Criminal Identity Theft On Your Pennsylvania State Police Record

Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on how to deal with criminal identity theft - where someone who is arrested gives your name, date of birth, and/or Social Security number to the authorities. [PDF] (Updated 1/6/22)

Expungement Guide/Limited Access Guide - York County

Legal information about the expungement of criminal records process in York County and about the process for limiting access to certain criminal records. These processes are designed to help individuals who are interested in the expungement of criminal records or in limiting access to qualified records to certain individuals and entities.

Expungement Procedures in Beaver County

Information on expunging your criminal record in the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County.

Expungements - Allegheny County

Information on expungements of criminal records from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Criminal Division.

Lehigh County: Expungement /Limited Access of Record (Self-Help Center)

This information from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is for reference and research purposes. This section explains the basic forms needed for expungement of a criminal record or limiting access to a criminal record in a step by step format.

Clearing Your Criminal Record in Pennsylvania

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services on methods for clearing your criminal record and what can be cleared from your record.

Delaware County: Helpful Legal Information for the Public - Delaware County Bar Association

Information and forms to assist self-represented litigants in certain types of Court actions compiled by the Pro Se Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association.

Expungement Explainer

Information on expungement including what criminal records can be expunged and the process for getting them expunged.

Lancaster County: Judge Henry S. Kenderdine Jr. Self Help Center

The Lancaster County Court Self Help Center opened in July, 2004. The main purpose of the Center is to provide one central location where self-represented litigants can obtain some of the information and forms that they may need to represent themselves in certain types of court actions.

Mifflin County: Prothonotary Forms

Custody, Divorce and Expungement forms from the Prothonotary and MidPenn Legal Services for use in Mifflin County may be viewed and downloaded.

PardonMePA.org - Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects

This website from the Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects is designed to help you find a local Pardon Project to assist you in applying for a pardon. Pardon Projects are countywide efforts that link together community organizations (called “Pardon Hubs”) that have been trained in the pardon form and process. They also have a list of volunteers (called “Pardon Coaches”) ready to help people fill out the application. The site also provides information on pardons and how to apply for one by yourself.

Pardon Process Explained (Video)

This video from Neighborhood Legal Services will help you understand how to submit an application for a pardon and prepare for your hearing.

Pardons - DIY: Filling Out the Application (Video)

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) has developed a series of videos explaining how to complete an application for pardon. The form to apply for a pardon in Pennsylvania is pretty short but there are things you need to know to do the best job you can filling it out, and a quality application is a key factor in getting a pardon. These videos were created by Philadelphia Attorney Joe Mitchell, a private attorney who gives free community education workshops as a volunteer for PLSE.

Getting Your Adult Criminal Record Expunged

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on how to get an adult criminal record expunged in Pennsylvania, with specific directions for Allegheny County. [PDF] (March 2011)

Forms - Pennsylvania Courts

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. ‌BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: ‌(ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)

Expungements and Pardons

Information from Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services about how to expunge a criminal record and how to get a pardon.

Getting Your Juvenile Record Expunged (Allegheny County)

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on how to get an adult criminal record expunged in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

How to Remove Barriers to Employment

This handbook from North Penn Legal Services provides what you need to know about expungements, pardons, and other barriers to employment. [PDF] (July 2010)

Pardons and Expungements in Pennsylvania (Audio-MP3)

6/2/2008 - Information from Northwestern Legal Services on how pardons and expungements in Pennsylvania are handled, how and when to apply, and what criteria is considered. Audio recording with written transcript.

Every Door Closed: Barriers Facing Parents With Criminal Records

This set of 8 two-page fact sheets, a joint project of Community Legal Services, Inc., of Philadelphia and the Center for Law and Social Policy, details the scope of the challenges faced by families where a parent returns from prison. [PDF format]

Project Reset (Allegheny County)

Project Reset is a program of the Public Defender's Office of Allegheny county using a variety of initiatives that are focused on allowing residents with a criminal record to “reset” their lives while providing additional information and resources for other initiatives. Initiatives include Clean Slate (record sealing), expungement of criminal records, pardons and other initiatives.

Expungement Guide/Limited Access Guide - York County

Legal information about the expungement of criminal records process in York County and about the process for limiting access to certain criminal records. These processes are designed to help individuals who are interested in the expungement of criminal records or in limiting access to qualified records to certain individuals and entities.

Expungement Procedures in Beaver County

Information on expunging your criminal record in the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County.

Expungements

Fact sheet from the Youth Justice Project providing information on the expungement (removal) of juvenile records and certain adult criminal records.

Expungements - Allegheny County

Information on expungements of criminal records from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Criminal Division.

Lehigh County: Expungement /Limited Access of Record (Self-Help Center)

This information from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is for reference and research purposes. This section explains the basic forms needed for expungement of a criminal record or limiting access to a criminal record in a step by step format.

Understanding Expungement and Limited Access to Criminal Records

Informational brochure from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. A new state law goes into effect on Nov. 14, 2016, that amends the Crimes Code to create a new option to address criminal-history-record information. Learn how this law may affect you. [PDF]

Clearing Your Criminal Record in Pennsylvania

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services on methods for clearing your criminal record and what can be cleared from your record.

Criminal Record Clearing for Individuals With Disabilities

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services for individuals with disabilities and service providers about the criminal record clearing process.

Employment Rights

Fact sheet from the Youth Justice Project discussing the impact of juvenile and criminal records on employment. [PDF]

Expungement Explainer

Information on expungement including what criminal records can be expunged and the process for getting them expunged.

Mifflin County: Prothonotary Forms

Custody, Divorce and Expungement forms from the Prothonotary and MidPenn Legal Services for use in Mifflin County may be viewed and downloaded.

Get a Clean Slate in Pennsylvania - MyCleanSlatePA.com

This website, MyCleanSlatePA.com provides comprehensive information on Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law that provides for automated sealing of certain criminal records. Information is also provided on how to obtain legal help in dealing with your criminal record.

Clean Slate Review

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law permits many criminal cases in Pennsylvania to be sealed – taken out of public view - so they cannot be used by employers, landlords and others. Use this form to submit your information for review by a volunteer attorney to see if you qualify to have your criminal record sealed under the Clean Slate Law. (April 2019)

Clean Slate Video Tutorial - Finding & Reading Your Public Record (Video)

Clean Slate is a new law in Pennsylvania that automatically seals old and minor criminal records. This video tutorial goes over how to find your public record on the court websites, how to read your record to see whether you may be eligible for Clean Slate, and how to make sure your record is ready for sealing. (June 2019)

Clean Slate and Immigration

Information on the effect of the Clean Slate Law, allowing the automatic sealing of certain criminal records, on the immigration process.

Forms - Pennsylvania Courts

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. ‌BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: ‌(ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)

How to Remove Barriers to Employment

This handbook from North Penn Legal Services provides what you need to know about expungements, pardons, and other barriers to employment. [PDF] (July 2010)

Employment with Criminal Record

Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia relating to your employment rights and not being rejected for a job based upon a criminal record.

Legal Rights of People with Criminal Records: Employment

Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on the rights of ex-offenders who are seeking employment. (October 2017)

Project Reset (Allegheny County)

Project Reset is a program of the Public Defender's Office of Allegheny county using a variety of initiatives that are focused on allowing residents with a criminal record to “reset” their lives while providing additional information and resources for other initiatives. Initiatives include Clean Slate (record sealing), expungement of criminal records, pardons and other initiatives.

Understanding Expungement and Limited Access to Criminal Records

Informational brochure from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. A new state law goes into effect on Nov. 14, 2016, that amends the Crimes Code to create a new option to address criminal-history-record information. Learn how this law may affect you. [PDF]

Clearing Your Criminal Record in Pennsylvania

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services on methods for clearing your criminal record and what can be cleared from your record.

Criminal Record Clearing for Individuals With Disabilities

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services for individuals with disabilities and service providers about the criminal record clearing process.

Q & A on the Pennsylvania Pardon Process (Video)

Video Questions & Answers on the Pardon Process from Penn Law School featuring Attorney Janet Ginzberg of Community Legal Services.

Erasing Your Criminal Record: How to Get a Pardon in Pennsylvania

A pardon is an act by the Governor of Pennsylvania that erases a conviction from your criminal record. It is generally the only way that felony and misdemeanor convictions can be eliminated. This guide from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia tells you how to get a pardon in Pennsylvania. [PDF] (February 2016)

Getting a Conviction Pardoned

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on getting a pardon in Pennsylvania. [PDF] (September 2010)

How to Remove Barriers to Employment

This handbook from North Penn Legal Services provides what you need to know about expungements, pardons, and other barriers to employment. [PDF] (July 2010)

Pardons and Expungements in Pennsylvania (Audio-MP3)

6/2/2008 - Information from Northwestern Legal Services on how pardons and expungements in Pennsylvania are handled, how and when to apply, and what criteria is considered. Audio recording with written transcript.

Pardons

Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on how to clear your criminal record by obtaining a pardon

Project Reset (Allegheny County)

Project Reset is a program of the Public Defender's Office of Allegheny county using a variety of initiatives that are focused on allowing residents with a criminal record to “reset” their lives while providing additional information and resources for other initiatives. Initiatives include Clean Slate (record sealing), expungement of criminal records, pardons and other initiatives.

Clearing Your Criminal Record in Pennsylvania

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services on methods for clearing your criminal record and what can be cleared from your record.

Criminal Record Clearing for Individuals With Disabilities

Information from Neighborhood Legal Services for individuals with disabilities and service providers about the criminal record clearing process.

PA Marijuana Pardon Project Available until Sept. 30, 2022

On September 1, 2022, the Governor, Lt. Governor and Board of Pardons announced a special 30-day-only program for people whose ONLY crime EVER was the possession of small amounts of marijuana – no other convictions ever in any state or the federal laws.

PardonMePA.org - Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects

This website from the Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects is designed to help you find a local Pardon Project to assist you in applying for a pardon. Pardon Projects are countywide efforts that link together community organizations (called “Pardon Hubs”) that have been trained in the pardon form and process. They also have a list of volunteers (called “Pardon Coaches”) ready to help people fill out the application. The site also provides information on pardons and how to apply for one by yourself.

Pardon Process Explained (Video)

This video from Neighborhood Legal Services will help you understand how to submit an application for a pardon and prepare for your hearing.

Pardons - DIY: Filling Out the Application (Video)

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) has developed a series of videos explaining how to complete an application for pardon. The form to apply for a pardon in Pennsylvania is pretty short but there are things you need to know to do the best job you can filling it out, and a quality application is a key factor in getting a pardon. These videos were created by Philadelphia Attorney Joe Mitchell, a private attorney who gives free community education workshops as a volunteer for PLSE.

Get a Clean Slate in Pennsylvania - MyCleanSlatePA.com

This website, MyCleanSlatePA.com provides comprehensive information on Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law that provides for automated sealing of certain criminal records. Information is also provided on how to obtain legal help in dealing with your criminal record.

Forms - Pennsylvania Courts

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. ‌BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: ‌(ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)

Lehigh County: Expungement /Limited Access of Record (Self-Help Center)

This information from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is for reference and research purposes. This section explains the basic forms needed for expungement of a criminal record or limiting access to a criminal record in a step by step format.

Pardons - DIY: Filling Out the Application (Video)

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) has developed a series of videos explaining how to complete an application for pardon. The form to apply for a pardon in Pennsylvania is pretty short but there are things you need to know to do the best job you can filling it out, and a quality application is a key factor in getting a pardon. These videos were created by Philadelphia Attorney Joe Mitchell, a private attorney who gives free community education workshops as a volunteer for PLSE.

Understanding Expungement and Limited Access to Criminal Records

Informational brochure from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. A new state law goes into effect on Nov. 14, 2016, that amends the Crimes Code to create a new option to address criminal-history-record information. Learn how this law may affect you. [PDF]

Criminal Law

Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. [PDF] (November 2012)

Delaware County: Helpful Legal Information for the Public - Delaware County Bar Association

Information and forms to assist self-represented litigants in certain types of Court actions compiled by the Pro Se Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association.

What To Do If You Are Arrested

Information concerning what to do when arrested.

Forms - Pennsylvania Courts

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. ‌BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: ‌(ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)

Project Reset (Allegheny County)

Project Reset is a program of the Public Defender's Office of Allegheny county using a variety of initiatives that are focused on allowing residents with a criminal record to “reset” their lives while providing additional information and resources for other initiatives. Initiatives include Clean Slate (record sealing), expungement of criminal records, pardons and other initiatives.

Expungement Guide/Limited Access Guide - York County

Legal information about the expungement of criminal records process in York County and about the process for limiting access to certain criminal records. These processes are designed to help individuals who are interested in the expungement of criminal records or in limiting access to qualified records to certain individuals and entities.

Expungement Procedures in Beaver County

Information on expunging your criminal record in the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County.

Expungements - Allegheny County

Information on expungements of criminal records from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Criminal Division.

Lehigh County: Expungement /Limited Access of Record (Self-Help Center)

This information from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is for reference and research purposes. This section explains the basic forms needed for expungement of a criminal record or limiting access to a criminal record in a step by step format.

PardonMePA.org - Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects

This website from the Pennsylvania Association of Pardon Projects is designed to help you find a local Pardon Project to assist you in applying for a pardon. Pardon Projects are countywide efforts that link together community organizations (called “Pardon Hubs”) that have been trained in the pardon form and process. They also have a list of volunteers (called “Pardon Coaches”) ready to help people fill out the application. The site also provides information on pardons and how to apply for one by yourself.

Lehigh County: Expungement /Limited Access of Record (Self-Help Center)

This information from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is for reference and research purposes. This section explains the basic forms needed for expungement of a criminal record or limiting access to a criminal record in a step by step format.

Project Reset (Allegheny County)

Project Reset is a program of the Public Defender's Office of Allegheny county using a variety of initiatives that are focused on allowing residents with a criminal record to “reset” their lives while providing additional information and resources for other initiatives. Initiatives include Clean Slate (record sealing), expungement of criminal records, pardons and other initiatives.

Expungements - Allegheny County

Information on expungements of criminal records from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Criminal Division.

Delaware County: Helpful Legal Information for the Public - Delaware County Bar Association

Information and forms to assist self-represented litigants in certain types of Court actions compiled by the Pro Se Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association.

Lehigh County: Expungement /Limited Access of Record (Self-Help Center)

This information from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is for reference and research purposes. This section explains the basic forms needed for expungement of a criminal record or limiting access to a criminal record in a step by step format.

Lancaster County: Judge Henry S. Kenderdine Jr. Self Help Center

The Lancaster County Court Self Help Center opened in July, 2004. The main purpose of the Center is to provide one central location where self-represented litigants can obtain some of the information and forms that they may need to represent themselves in certain types of court actions.

Mifflin County: Prothonotary Forms

Custody, Divorce and Expungement forms from the Prothonotary and MidPenn Legal Services for use in Mifflin County may be viewed and downloaded.

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