A past arrest or old criminal defense case can follow you into job interviews, apartment applications, and professional licensing. Pennsylvania offers several paths to clean up your record, but each has its own rules. This guide explains what expungement really means, how it differs from record sealing under the Clean Slate law, who qualifies, and the basic steps to file in Beaver County and beyond.
The quick answer
In Pennsylvania, many non-conviction criminal records and some minor convictions can be expunged. Most misdemeanor and felony criminal convictions cannot be expunged without a Governor’s pardon, but many can be sealed from public view through Clean Slate limited access. The right path depends on your exact case and history.
Expungement vs. record sealing vs. pardon
Think of these as different tools.
- Expungement: Removes qualifying records from public view and directs agencies to destroy or remove them from the central repository. Some limited internal records may remain for law enforcement or PennDOT.
- Clean Slate limited access: Seals eligible records from public background checks. Courts and law enforcement still see them, but employers and landlords generally do not.
- Pardon: An official act by the Governor that forgives a conviction. After a pardon, you can ask the court to expunge the pardoned case, including felonies.
Records that can often be expunged
Eligibility is fact-specific, but these categories are common:
- Non-convictions: Charges withdrawn, dismissed, nolle prossed, or cases with a not guilty verdict.
- ARD completion: After you finish Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition and the case is closed, you can petition to expunge that case. Separate PennDOT records may still affect future DUI penalties.
- Summary offense convictions: Often eligible five years after conviction if you remain arrest-free and pay all fines and costs.
- Underage alcohol or certain minor offenses: Some are expungeable after completion of court-ordered requirements.
- Age 70 rule: If you are at least 70 and arrest-free for 10 years after release from supervision, you may qualify to expunge older matters.
- Deceased individuals: A representative can petition to expunge a decedent’s record.
- Juvenile records: Often expungeable after waiting periods or when specific conditions are met, such as successful completion and no new offenses.
Records that usually require a pardon first
As a general rule, Pennsylvania does not expunge adult misdemeanor or felony convictions without a pardon. If you have a past conviction that blocks jobs or housing, a pardon may open the door to full expungement later.
What Clean Slate can seal from public view
Clean Slate combines automatic sealing with petitions for limited access. It can hide many non-convictions automatically and seal many misdemeanor convictions after waiting periods when fines are paid, and there are no disqualifying offenses. Sealing is not the same as expungement, but for most employers and landlords, it provides similar relief because the record no longer appears on standard public background checks.
Who can still see sealed or expunged matters
- Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts keep access to sealed records.
- Certain state agencies and licensing boards may have limited access depending on the statute.
- Expunged matters are removed from public view, but agencies may retain narrowly defined internal data in specific contexts, such as PennDOT for ARD DUI tracking.
The expungement process in Pennsylvania
Every county has its own filing practices, but the overall steps are similar.
- Get your record
Obtain your court docket sheets and, when helpful, your statewide criminal history (PATCH report). Confirm exact charges, grades, and outcomes. - Confirm eligibility
Match each case to the correct path. Non-convictions and ARD matters usually proceed by expungement petition. Summary convictions may qualify after five arrest-free years. Older convictions may require a pardon first. Some misdemeanors can be sealed under Clean Slate instead. - File a petition
File in the Court of Common Pleas, where the case was handled. In Beaver County, that means filing with the Clerk of Courts. Your petition should list the case number, charges, disposition, and the statutory basis for relief. - Serve the right parties
Serve the District Attorney and any agencies that maintain the record, such as the arresting police department and the Pennsylvania State Police. - Hearing or consent
Some petitions are granted on consent. Others require a hearing where the judge decides eligibility and, in limited categories, weighs the interest in justice. - Distribute the order
If granted, certified copies of the court’s order go to the State Police, the arresting agency, and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts so they can remove or update the record. - Clean up online traces
Court dockets will update, but private background sites may lag. Keep your order and follow up if third-party databases do not update after a reasonable time.
Common mistakes that delay relief
- Filing for expungement when the conviction actually requires a pardon or Clean Slate limited access.
- Missing unpaid fines or costs that must be resolved before relief is granted.
- Using the wrong docket number or failing to list every charge from the incident.
- Not serving all required agencies or failing to provide certified copies of the order after the judge signs.
How Valsamidis Law can help
We review your full history, separate what can be expunged from what can be sealed, and prepare the petitions that fit your situation. In Beaver County, we handle filings with the Clerk of Courts, coordinate with the District Attorney’s Office, and follow through with state repositories so your record is actually updated. If a pardon is the right path, we map that process and help you present a strong application.
If you live in Beaver County or nearby and want to review your expungement or Clean Slate options, contact Valsamidis Law for a confidential case review and a clear plan.