Pennsylvania starts automatic sealing of some criminal files
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, right, walks with Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, left, and Rep. Jordan Harris D-Philadelphia, during a news conference in Harrisburg, Pa., Friday, June 28, 2019. Lower level criminal convictions are starting to be automatically sealed under a year-old Pennsylvania state law touted as a way to give offenders a fresh start. State officials and other supporters touted the new phase of the “clean slate” legislation Friday in Harrisburg, calling the program a model for other states. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(Harrisburg) — Lower-level criminal convictions are starting to be automatically sealed under a year-old Pennsylvania state law touted as a way to give offenders a fresh start.
State officials and other supporters on Friday called the “clean slate” legislation a model for other states.
The court system plans to be sealing about 2.5 million records a month for the next year, including summary offenses, less serious misdemeanors and those that did not result in convictions.
Defendants aren’t eligible if they have a prior criminal history that includes a felony, two first-degree misdemeanors or four second-degree misdemeanors.
The convictions aren’t automatically expunged and will be available to police, courts and prosecutors.
People who aren’t eligible for automatic sealing can ask a judge to seal misdemeanors, with some exceptions.
Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
