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.
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.
Explore legal service providers located in the state by proximity to a zip code or county.
Contact information for legal aid organizations, bar associations, and other organizations that engage in record clearance work is provided for informational purposes only. The Clean Slate Clearinghouse does not endorse or recommend any organization or individual referenced on the site. If you are a legal service provider who offers record clearance services, please contact us.
Service area: Philadelphia County
Walk-ins preferred:
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102 (Center City)
1410 West Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19140 (North Philadelphia)
Service area: Lehigh, Northampton, Bradford, Susquehanna, Carbon, Luzerne, Clinton, Lycoming, Tioga, Columbia, Montour, Lackawanna, Sullivan, Wyoming, Monroe, Pike, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, and Wayne counties
Service area: Philadelphia County
Access to records relating to certain misdemeanor convictions can be limited by the court ten years after the date of conviction, so long as the person has no subsequent felony or misdemeanor conviction. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122.1.
View DetailsRecords relating to an underage alcohol conviction for a person over the age of 18 can be expunged when the person reaches 21. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122(a)(3).
View DetailsRecords relating to a summary offense can be expunged five years after conviction, so long as the person has no arrests or charges in that time. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122(b)(3), Pa. R. Crim. P. 490.
View DetailsRecords relating to a conviction can be expunged for a person at least 70 years of age with no arrests or charges in the 10 years following the completion of their sentence. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122(b)(1).
View DetailsRecords relating to certain offenses can be vacated by the court if the petitioner committed the offense as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3019(d).
View DetailsAccess to records relating to convictions for summary offenses and certain misdemeanors are limited by the court after 10 years. Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122.2.
View DetailsRecords relating to a first controlled substance offense are expunged upon dismissal following probation without verdict. 35 P.S. §§ 780-117, 780-119.
View DetailsRecords of a first-time offense can be expunged upon the dismissal following an accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD). 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122(a)(2), Pa. R. Crim. P. 320.
View DetailsRecords relating to arrests and charges are extracted from police department files when three years have passed since an arrest without conviction and there are no pending proceedings. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9121(b)(2)(i).
View DetailsRecords relating to an arrest are expunged if no charges are filed within 18 months. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122(a)(1).
View DetailsRecords relating to arrests and charges resolved without conviction can be expunged immediately. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122(a)(2), Pa. R. Crim. P. 790.
View DetailsAccess to records of charges for which the disposition was not a conviction are limited by the court without a waiting period. Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9122.2.
View DetailsRecords relating to a complaint that is not substantiated or where the petition is dismissed by the court may be expunged after 30 days' notice to the district attorney, so long as the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(1).
View DetailsRecords relating to a written allegation that is not approved for prosecution can be expunged after 30 days' notice to the district attorney, so long as the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(1.1).
View DetailsRecords relating to the person's successful completion of an informal adjustment can be expunged after 30 days' notice to the district attorney, so long as the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(1.2).
View DetailsRecords relating to a consent decree or diversion program can be expunged after six months have elapsed since the final discharge from supervision, so long as the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(2).
View DetailsRecords relating to a conviction for a summary offense can be expunged, so long as the person is 18 years of age or older and not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(2.1).
View DetailsRecords relating to a conviction of a violation relating to the purchase, consumption, possession, or transportation of liquor, malt, or brewed beverages can be expunged, so long as the person is 18 years of age or older and not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(2.2).
View DetailsRecords relating to a person adjudicated delinquent can be expunged, so long as five years have elapsed since the final discharge and the person is not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(3).
View DetailsA record relating to a juvenile delinquency case can be expunged at the discretion of the court, so long as the person has the consent of the attorney for the Commonwealth and is not subject to a disqualifying event. 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9123(a)(4).
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