On February 16, 2016, Governor Wolf signed into effect a law that allows minor criminal convictions to be sealed and keeps in place laws that permit expungement of criminal arrest records or criminal cases that did not result in a conviction to be expunged. The law will take effect on November 14, 2016. As a result of the law, citizens who have been charged with crimes or have been convicted of misdemeanors of the second and third degree will be able to have their records sealed. The practical effect of having a record sealed is that an individual does not have to disclose to potential employers the fact that they had in the past made a mistake. There is a 10 year waiting period after a conviction before you can have your record sealed and there are certain crimes, including all felonies and first degree misdemeanors, that are not eligible for record sealing but, in general, a second or third degree misdemeanor or a summary conviction can be sealed and only visible to law enforcement agencies. The law also prohibits having a record sealed if the citizen has four or more misdemeanor convictions on their record. At our offices we have the answers for those who have been held back in the past because of indiscretions and mistakes that have happened years ago. We can help you clear your record and brighten your future. It is not a simple process and requires effort by someone who knows the law. But at the end of the day, it is well worth it. So if you have a second or third degree misdemeanor conviction and it has been more than 10 years since you have had any legal trouble, contact our office and schedule an appointment. We can help you find a better tomorrow!
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