Pennsylvania

Adult criminal records for cases in which you were convicted are eligible for sealing or expungement in some situations. You have to file a petition in court to start the process.

• With certain exceptions, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor, the record can be restricted 10 years after you were convicted, so long as you have not been convicted of  anything during that time. It is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition.

• If you were convicted of an underage alcohol offense when you were 18, 19, or 20, the record can be expunged when you turn 21. If you meet the criteria, the judge has to grant your petition.

• If you were convicted of a summary offense, the record can be expunged five years after your conviction, so long as you have not been arrested or charged with anything during that time. It is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition.

• If you are 70 or older, the record of a criminal conviction can be expunged, so long as for 10 years after you completed your sentence you were not arrested or charged with anything. It is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition.

Adult criminal records for cases in which you completed a diversion or deferral program are eligible for expungement in some situations.

• In a first-time drug case, if the charges are dismissed after you successfully complete probation without verdict, the record should be expunged immediately.

• With certain exceptions, if your first-time offense case is dismissed after you successfully complete accelerated rehabilitative disposition, the record is expunged immediately, unless the prosecutor objects.

Adult criminal records for arrests for which you were never convicted are eligible for extraction or expungement.

• Three years after your arrest, the record should be extracted from police department files if there is no pending case and there has not been a conviction.

• If you were arrested but no charges were filed within18 months, the record should be expunged.

• If you were arrested but not convicted, the record can be expunged immediately. You have to file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition.

If you were convicted of prostitution or certain other offenses because you were a victim of human trafficking, the conviction can be vacated immediately. You have to file a petition in court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your petition.

Below is a general overview of when juvenile records can be expunged in Pennsylvania. Please note that the Clean Slate Clearinghouse does not provide legal advice.

Read the legal policies and statutes for detailed statutory information.

Juvenile Record Clearance Policies Overview

Most juvenile records can be expunged.

• If you were never charged, you successfully completed an informal adjustment, or your case was dismissed, your record can be expunged at any time. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request.

• If you completed supervision under a consent decree or other diversion program, your record can be expunged six months after you complete the program. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request.

• With certain exceptions, if you were adjudicated (found guilty) for an alcohol-related offense or a summary offense (non-traffic citation), your record can be expunged after you turn 18. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request.

• With certain exceptions, if you were adjudicated (found guilty) for other offenses, your record can be expunged five years after your case, probation, or commitment ends. You have to submit a request to the court to start the process, and it is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request. 

You can request that your record be expunged at any time if the attorney for the Commonwealth (prosecutor) agrees. It is up to the judge whether or not to grant your request.

You may not be eligible for expungement if you have certain convictions or adjudications on your record or have pending criminal or juvenile charges. 

Find a Lawyer

If you think you might be eligible to have your record expunged, find a lawyer who may be able to help you. Some lawyers might help you for free, although you may still need to pay a fee to file the paperwork in court.

Court Forms and Resources

If you cannot find a lawyer to help you, you may be able to file a petition on your own using these court forms and resources.