What does a “Petition for Expungement” mean and why should I file one?
If you have been arrested and the charges were withdrawn, dismissed, Nolle Prossed (dismissed by the District Attorney), you have completed ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition), or found Not Guilty, your criminal record associated with this docket number will still be out in the universe for all to see, indefinitely. These charges will still appear on any criminal background check of your name or social security number. A criminal record will cause major difficulties when filling out a rental application, applying for a job, entering the military, applying for a credit card, and a host of other scenarios. The only path to a clean criminal record is the filing of a Petition for Expungement.
The courts are not required to remove or expunge your criminal record once your case is resolved, even if your charges were dismissed, withdrawn, or Nolle Prossed. These charges will still appear on all criminal background checks even if you have completed ARD or were found not guilty by a jury or a judge.
Why do I need to file this petition? Because you need a clear criminal record. A Petition for Expungement is a motion filed with the Clerk of Courts in the county of the arrest. Once granted, your entire criminal record associated with your specific docket number is removed and destroyed from the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. All charges relating to this particular docket number are wiped clean from the system and the entire matter is removed. Any agency involved in the original charges is ordered by the Court to remove this docket number from their system, certify this removal and the physical destruction of the file. The local court and police department where the charges originated are ordered to destroy your file. The District Attorney’s Office and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts are also notified and ordered to remove your record from their database. Even the Pennsylvania State Police are so ordered.
ThePhillyLawyers have filed hundreds of Petitions for Expungement for their clients. It is a simple and painless process with extraordinary results… a clear criminal record. Although the process may take a few months to conclude, a Petition for Expungment is the only path to a clear criminal record. There are, however, some charges that cannot be expunged or may require a five-year waiting period to file. Please call ThePhillyLawyers and see if your charges can be expunged so you can have a clear criminal record.
