With the passing of HB 1419 in 2018, Pennsylvania amended its legislation that determined how citizens could have a record sealed. HB 1419, commonly referred to as the Clean Slate Act allowed for the implementation of an automated system that reviews criminal cases of public record and determines their eligibility for sealing. In prior years, defendants who petitioned the court could have their low level, non-violent misdemeanors sealed. However, this newest revision to the legislation allows for automatic sealing of records without any action by the defendant.
On June 28, 2019, the automated system became operational. It is estimated that between now and June 2020, nearly 30 million records could be sealed. Here are the qualifying categories that each case must fall within to be considered:
Non-Conviction Records
- Charges Dropped
- Found Not Guilty
Non-Violent Conviction Records
- Summary Offenses
- Minor Misdemeanors
Cases will not be considered for seal unless the defendant has been crime-free for 10 years. Additionally, all fines and costs must be paid in full. Once sealed, the records will no longer appear on public records, but they can still be seen by law enforcement and the courts. A good resource to learn more about the Pennsylvania Clean Slate Act is found at https://mycleanslatepa.com/.