Source review: October 11, 2026. Information only, not legal advice.
Pennsylvania criminal record clearing
Pennsylvania offers both petition-based and automatic record-clearing routes. The main route: Expungement of non-conviction / dismissed, withdrawn, or nolle prossed charges under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a). Waiting periods, caps, and categorical exclusions all apply; the details below are a summary, not legal advice.
What relief routes does Pennsylvania offer?
- Expungement of non-conviction / dismissed, withdrawn, or nolle prossed charges (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)). Disposition is a non-conviction: charges dismissed, withdrawn, nolle prossed, or arrest with no conviction. Applies to any offense class (summary through felony) so long as there was no conviction.
- Expungement after acquittal / not-guilty verdict (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)). Person is acquitted of ALL charges based on the same conduct or arising from the same criminal episode following a trial and verdict of not guilty. Does not apply to partial acquittals.
- Expungement where no disposition recorded within 18 months (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)). An arrest for which no disposition has been received or recorded in the State Police central repository within 18 months after the date of arrest, and the court certifies no disposition is available and no action is...
- Dismissal and expungement after successful completion of ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a) & (b.1); Pa.R.Crim.P. 320). Defendant was admitted to and successfully completed an ARD diversionary program (no conviction entered); charges are dismissed and the arrest record may then be expunged.
How long are the waiting periods?
- None. Available immediately once the case is disposed of without a conviction (no waiting period).
- Expungement occurs no later than 12 months from the date of acquittal (automatic process; Commonwealth may object within 60 days).
- 18 months from the date of arrest with no recorded disposition and no pending action.
Waiting periods generally run from the latest of sentencing, release from imprisonment, or completion of probation or parole, and a new conviction or pending charge can restart or block relief.
What cannot be cleared?
N/A for true non-convictions (no conviction to bar). Practical limits: charges still pending on the same criminal episode block expungement until resolved.
Can a general screener decide Pennsylvania eligibility?
No. The RecordReset screener can identify a possible match for review but cannot confirm eligibility; the court decides. It does not offer a Pennsylvania filing workbook, filing service, or attorney review. The summary here is drawn from published guidance including codes.findlaw.com and the cited statutes.
Pennsylvania record-clearing law is primarily under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9122, 9122.1, and 9122.2 (expungement, petition for limited access, and Clean Slate automatic limited access). The information here is a summary and not a substitute for review by a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Questions people ask
Does Pennsylvania clear any records automatically?
Yes. Pennsylvania has an automatic relief route in addition to petition-based relief; automatic relief applies only to qualifying records and caps apply. Many cases still need a petition.
How long is the waiting period?
None. Available immediately once the case is disposed of without a conviction (no waiting period).
Where do I start?
Gather your disposition date, charge classification, and completion of sentence, then read the official guidance (codes.findlaw.com) before filing. A screening tool can flag possible matches but cannot confirm eligibility.
RecordReset is a self-help legal information service, not a law firm. A screening can only say a case may match published rules and needs review. A court or agency determines relief. RecordReset does not file cases or offer attorney review; paid enrollment and draft PDFs are paused for legal and form review.