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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	May 22, 2014 12:37 PM
From:	Representative Gordon Denlinger
To:	All House members
Subject:	Expungement Legislation

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation would expand Pennsylvania’s policy of expunging minor criminal records, and thus relieving those who have truly reformed themselves from the burden of long-term reporting of such minor offenses. My legislation would amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to allow individuals who have served their punishment and remained free of arrest or prosecution for seven years, for nonviolent third degree misdemeanors, to petition the court for their record to be expunged. A low-level misdemeanor in a person’s past is often an insurmountable obstacle to obtaining work, long after a person has reformed himself. Right now, a person with such a minor criminal record cannot obtain an expungement until he is 70 years old or already deceased. Otherwise, the only possible avenue for relief is an already overburdened pardon system. This legislation would benefit not just former offenders, but Pennsylvania as a whole by providing an opportunity for ex-offenders to find meaningful employment.

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