PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT — PENNSYLVANIA

Document Type: Petition for Expungement of Criminal Records

Statutory Authority: 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9122–9123

Jurisdiction: Court of Common Pleas

Filing Fee: Varies by county (typically $50–$150)

________________________________________________________________________________

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA )

) ss.

COUNTY OF ____________________ )

________________________________________________________________________________

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

_________________ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

CRIMINAL DIVISION

________________________________________________________________________________

IN RE: PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT

OF CRIMINAL RECORDS OF:

______________________________________

(Full Legal Name of Petitioner)

: NO. _____________

:

:

:

________________________________________________________________________________

PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT

OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION

________________________________________________________________________________

COMES NOW Petitioner, ________________________, by and through this Petition, respectfully requests that this Honorable Court order the expungement of Petitioner's criminal history record information pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and/or § 9123, and in support thereof states as follows:

I. PARTIES AND JURISDICTION

1.1 Petitioner, ________________________, is an individual residing at:

1.2 This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, which authorizes the Court of Common Pleas to order expungement of criminal history record information.

1.3 Venue is proper in this County because the original criminal proceedings occurred in this County.

II. BASIS FOR EXPUNGEMENT

Petitioner seeks expungement under the following statutory provision(s):

☐ 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(1) — No disposition received within 18 months of arrest

☐ 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(2) — Court order requiring expungement of nonconviction data

☐ 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(2.1) — Unconditional pardon granted

☐ 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4) — Acquittal of all charges following trial

☐ 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(b) — Successful completion of ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition)

☐ 18 Pa.C.S. § 9123(a) — Expungement of juvenile records

III. CASE INFORMATION

A. Original Case Information:

B. Disposition Details (check all that apply):

☐ Charges were dismissed

☐ Petitioner was acquitted (found not guilty)

☐ Petitioner completed ARD program

☐ Petitioner received an unconditional pardon

☐ Petitioner was under age 18 at time of offense (juvenile record)

☐ No disposition was entered within 18 months of arrest

☐ Other: ________________________________________________

IV. ELIGIBILITY UNDER 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122

Petitioner is eligible for expungement because:

4.1 ☐ Nonconviction Data: Petitioner was not convicted of the charged offense(s). The disposition was:

• Dismissal
• Acquittal
• ARD completion
• Nolle prosequi
• Withdrawal of charges

4.2 ☐ 18-Month Rule: No disposition was received within 18 months after the date of arrest, no disposition is available, and no action is pending. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(1): "no disposition has been received or, upon request for criminal history record information, no disposition has been recorded in the repository within 18 months after the date of arrest and the court of proper jurisdiction certifies to the director of the repository that no disposition is available and no action is pending."

4.3 ☐ Acquittal: Petitioner was acquitted of all charges following a trial and verdict of not guilty. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4): "a judicial determination has been made that a person is acquitted of an offense, if the person has been acquitted of all charges based on the same conduct or arising from the same criminal episode following a trial and a verdict of not guilty."

4.4 ☐ Unconditional Pardon: Petitioner received an unconditional pardon for the offense. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(2.1): "a person has been granted an unconditional pardon for an offense in accordance with law."

4.5 ☐ ARD Completion: Petitioner successfully completed the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(b): expungement shall occur "where the defendant has successfully completed the conditions of any pretrial or post-trial diversion or probation program."

V. ELIGIBILITY UNDER 18 Pa.C.S. § 9123 (JUVENILE RECORDS)

Complete this section if seeking expungement of juvenile records:

5.1 Petitioner was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense.

5.2 The juvenile proceeding resulted in:

☐ Dismissed complaint/petition

☐ Successful completion of informal adjustment (6+ months elapsed)

☐ Successful completion of consent decree/diversion (6+ months elapsed)

☐ Summary offense conviction while under 18 (6+ months elapsed since sentence completion)

☐ Misdemeanor adjudication (2+ years elapsed since final discharge)

☐ Felony adjudication (5+ years elapsed since final discharge)

☐ District Attorney consent

5.3 Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9123(a): "expungement of records of juvenile delinquency cases and cases involving summary offenses committed while the individual was under 18 years of age, wherever kept or retained, shall occur after 30 days' notice to the district attorney whenever the court upon its own motion or upon the motion of a child or the parents or guardian finds" the conditions set forth above.

5.4 Petitioner has NOT been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or adjudicated delinquent, since the final discharge from supervision, and no proceeding is pending seeking such conviction or adjudication.

VI. CRIMINAL HISTORY CERTIFICATION

6.1 Petitioner certifies that since the disposition of the above-referenced case(s), Petitioner:

☐ Has NOT been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor

☐ Has NOT been adjudicated delinquent for any offense (if juvenile expungement)

☐ Has no pending criminal charges

☐ Has satisfied all terms and conditions of any sentence imposed

6.2 Petitioner is NOT currently under supervision for any criminal matter.

6.3 Petitioner has NOT been convicted of any offense that would disqualify Petitioner from expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(b)(1) or § 9123(a.1).

VII. REASONS FOR EXPUNGEMENT

7.1 Petitioner seeks expungement for the following reasons:

☐ Employment opportunities — criminal record is creating barriers to employment

☐ Housing applications — criminal record is affecting housing eligibility

☐ Education — criminal record is affecting educational opportunities

☐ Professional licensing — criminal record is affecting professional licenses

☐ Personal reputation — clearing Petitioner's name

☐ Other: ________________________________________________

7.2 The retention of Petitioner's criminal history record information is NOT required for purposes of protection of the public safety.

VIII. AGENCIES TO BE NOTIFIED

Upon entry of an expungement order, the following agencies should be notified to expunge their records:

IX. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Honorable Court:

A. Enter an Order directing the expungement of all criminal history record information pertaining to the above-referenced case(s) pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and/or § 9123;

B. Order the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository to expunge all records and notify all criminal justice agencies that have received such information;

C. Order the Clerk of Courts to seal or destroy all court records pertaining to this matter;

D. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

VERIFICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

COUNTY OF ____________________

I, ________________________, being duly sworn according to law, depose and say:

1. I am the Petitioner in this matter.

1. I have read the foregoing Petition and know the contents thereof.

1. The facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

1. I understand that false statements made herein are subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities).

_______________________________

Signature of Petitioner

______________________

[Print Full Legal Name]

_______________________________

Date

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this _____ day of _________________, 20____, by ________________________, who is personally known to me or who produced _________________________ as identification.

_______________________________

Notary Public

[Notary Seal]

My Commission Expires: ___________

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this Petition for Expungement has been served upon the District Attorney of __________________ County, Pennsylvania, at the following address:

_________________________________________________________________

☐ By personal delivery

☐ By first-class mail, postage prepaid

☐ By electronic service

_______________________________

Signature of Petitioner

_______________________________

Date

________________________________________________________________________________

FILING INSTRUCTIONS

________________________________________________________________________________

FORMATTING REQUIREMENT (Pa.R.C.P. No. 204.1):

Every document filed with a Pennsylvania court must have a 3-inch (3") blank

top margin on the first page. Subsequent pages require a minimum 1-inch top

margin. Verify margins before filing.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FORM (Pa.R.C.P. No. 207.1 — Effective Jan. 1, 2022):

Do NOT include in this or any public court document:

• Social Security Numbers — use last 4 digits only, or submit separately on

AOPC Form 3 (Confidential Information Form)

• Financial account numbers — last 4 digits only

• Driver's license numbers — submit on AOPC Form 3

• Minor children's full dates of birth — submit on AOPC Form 3

File completed AOPC Form 3 with the Prothonotary/Clerk separately from this

filing. Download at: www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public

Court: Court of Common Pleas, _________________ County, Pennsylvania

Address:

Filing Fee: $50–$150 (varies by county — contact Clerk of Courts for current fee)

Fee Waiver: If you cannot afford the filing fee, request an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) petition from the Clerk of Courts.

Required Documents:

1. Original Petition for Expungement (this document)
2. Pennsylvania State Police criminal history record (PATCH report) — obtain at https://epatch.state.pa.us
3. Copy of docket or disposition records for the case(s) to be expunged
4. Filing fee or IFP petition

Deadline: No statutory deadline — file when eligible under the waiting periods in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 or § 9123

Notice to District Attorney: The court must give ten (10) days' prior notice to the district attorney before ruling on an expungement petition. 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(f).

Processing Time: 2–6 months depending on county

STATUTORY REFERENCES

• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 — Expungement of adult criminal records
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9123 — Expungement of juvenile records
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 — Petition for limited access (Clean Slate)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 — Unsworn falsification to authorities (perjury)

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS

Jurisdiction-correct document templates. Not legal advice. Jurist-Diction is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice or represent you in court.

• Expungement eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case and criminal history.
• Some offenses are NOT eligible for expungement, including certain violent felonies and sex offenses.
• The District Attorney may object to your petition.
• Court procedures and fees vary by county. Contact your local Clerk of Courts for specific requirements.
• This template may not be appropriate for all situations. Consult with an attorney if your case involves complex issues.

Document prepared by Jurist-Diction • "The law, precisely spoken."

Template Version: 1.0 • Last Updated: March 2026