If you were previously convicted of a crime and served your time, this will show up on your criminal record. Most employers require each job applicant undergo a criminal record check, which can mean the difference between securing a new job and losing the position to a competitor. One way to prevent this issue is to have the conviction removed from your criminal record through a process called expungement. While the law in Pennsylvania makes it difficult for individuals to have a past crime removed from their record, in some cases, it is possible.
Currently, Pennsylvania permits the expungement of misdemeanors or felonies where:
- The individual is 70 years of age and has been free of arrest or prosecution for 10 years following their final release from confinement or supervision; or
- The individual has been dead for 3 years; or
- The individual was convicted of a summary offense and has been free of arrest or prosecution for 5 years following the conviction.