Index
Pennsylvania Clean Slate Law
Summary
Pennsylvania was the first state to pass a 'Clean Slate' law, automatically sealing the criminal records of individuals with minor, non-violent convictions after they stay out of trouble for 10 years.
Rights & Rules
- 01.If you were convicted of a non-violent misdemeanor and have not been convicted of any new crimes for 10 years, your record is automatically sealed by the state's computer system.
- 02.Arrest records that did not result in a conviction (e.g., you were found not guilty or charges were dropped) are sealed automatically after 60 days.
- 03.Once a record is sealed, you can legally answer 'No' if a private employer or landlord asks if you have a criminal record.
- 04.Sealed records are not destroyed; they can still be seen by law enforcement and used in future criminal proceedings, but they are hidden from public background checks.
Penalties
- 01.There are no penalties for the citizen, but if a background check company illegally reports a sealed record, they can be sued for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Verified Citations
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 18, Chapter 91
Source"Criminal history record information shall be automatically shielded from the public... if the person has been free from conviction for a period of 10 years for an offense punishable by one or more years in prison..."