How to File for Expungement in Pennsylvania
How to apply to clear a criminal record in Pennsylvania: the petition, court, fee and fee waiver, and what happens at the hearing.
Short answer: The State Police recommend starting by requesting your full Pennsylvania record with Form SP 4-170, Request for Access and Review. Then file a petition with the Clerk of Courts in the county where the charges were disposed. 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1(c); Pennsylvania State Police, Apply for Criminal Record Expungement; UJS Forms for the Public
| How to apply | The State Police recommend starting by requesting your full Pennsylvania record with Form SP 4-170, Request for Access and Review. Then file a petition with the Clerk of Courts in the county where the charges were disposed. Statewide forms include the Petition for Expungement under Pa.R.Crim.P. 790 (Court of Common Pleas), Rule 490 (summary cases, Magisterial District Court), and Petition for Limited Access forms. For limited-access petitions, the court notifies the district attorney within 10 days, and the DA has 30 days to object. If there is no objection, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. After the court grants expungement, the State Police expunge the record once they receive the court order. |
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| Filing fee | The State Police charge $20 (certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) for the Form SP 4-170 record request. Limited access by petition or under Clean Slate requires payment of restitution and the "fee previously authorized" for limited access. County court filing fees for expungement petitions and the availability of fee waivers were not confirmed on an official page. Ask the county Clerk of Courts. |
| Arrests and dismissed charges | Charges that end in anything other than a conviction (for example, dismissal or withdrawal) are automatically subject to Clean Slate limited access. The record is sent to the State Police repository within 30 days after the disposition, once any ordered restitution is paid. A court can order such non-conviction records expunged, and the district attorney gets 10 days' notice of the application. When a person is acquitted of all charges from the same conduct after trial, the court must give notice and then order automatic expungement within 12 months of the acquittal, unless the prosecutor objects within 60 days on the ground that the acquittal was only partial. Records are also expunged if no disposition is recorded within 18 months after arrest and the court certifies that none is available. |
| Getting a copy of your criminal record | The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) let you see your own Pennsylvania criminal history record through an "Access and Review" request on form SP 4-170. The fee is $20, the request can only be made by mail, and the result can't be notarized. PSP checks cover Pennsylvania law enforcement records only, not federal records. (PSP's online PATCH system, $22, is used for criminal history checks on individuals, not Access and Review.) |
Where to get help in Pennsylvania
More Pennsylvania expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Pennsylvania Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Pennsylvania
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Pennsylvania
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Pennsylvania
- All Pennsylvania expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do you file for expungement in Pennsylvania?
The State Police recommend starting by requesting your full Pennsylvania record with Form SP 4-170, Request for Access and Review. Then file a petition with the Clerk of Courts in the county where the charges were disposed. Statewide forms include the Petition for Expungement under Pa.R.Crim.P. 790 (Court of Common Pleas), Rule 490 (summary cases, Magisterial District Court), and Petition for Limited Access forms. For limited-access petitions, the court notifies the district attorney within 10 days, and the DA has 30 days to object. If there is no objection, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. After the court grants expungement, the State Police expunge the record once they receive the court order.
How much does expungement cost in Pennsylvania?
The State Police charge $20 (certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) for the Form SP 4-170 record request. Limited access by petition or under Clean Slate requires payment of restitution and the "fee previously authorized" for limited access.
Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in Pennsylvania?
Charges that end in anything other than a conviction (for example, dismissal or withdrawal) are automatically subject to Clean Slate limited access. The record is sent to the State Police repository within 30 days after the disposition, once any ordered restitution is paid. A court can order such non-conviction records expunged, and the district attorney gets 10 days' notice of the application. When a person is acquitted of all charges from the same conduct after trial, the court must give notice and then order automatic expungement within 12 months of the acquittal, unless the prosecutor objects within 60 days on the ground that the acquittal was only partial. Records are also expunged if no disposition is recorded within 18 months after arrest and the court certifies that none is available.
How do I check my own criminal record in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) let you see your own Pennsylvania criminal history record through an "Access and Review" request on form SP 4-170. The fee is $20, the request can only be made by mail, and the result can't be notarized. PSP checks cover Pennsylvania law enforcement records only, not federal records. (PSP's online PATCH system, $22, is used for criminal history checks on individuals, not Access and Review.)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.