In Pennsylvania, homelessness is getting worse On any given day, 15,000 Pennsylvanians experience homelessness. Rates of homelessness in Pennsylvania have increased, especially among veterans, families, and young people. The number of young Pennsylvanians who do not have shelter has increased by a third. Criminal records contribute to homelessness Approximately 4 out of 5 landlords conduct…
In 2018, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed the Clean Slate Act. With its signing, Pennsylvania became the first state
In 2018, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed the Clean Slate Act. With its signing, Pennsylvania became the first state
On Wednesday, April 11th, Clean Slate moved a step closer to becoming law, when PA House Bill 1419 was passed by the House by a 188-2 vote. The Senate unanimously passed a similar Clean Slate bill, Senate Bill 529, on June 28, 2017. Clean Slate is an extremely important bill for Pennsylvanians with old or…
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (the FCRA) governs the accuracy of criminal background checks prepared by commercial screeners. While there is not much case law holding that the FCRA prohibits commercial screeners from reporting expunged or sealed cases, there is little doubt that it does. Two FCRA provisions apply: Commercial screeners must use “reasonable procedures”…
Young people of color across Pennsylvania are over-criminalized at staggering rates. The consequences for any contact with the juvenile or criminal systems can be severe and long-lasting, while the circumstances that lead to arrest are often minor and may once have been thought of as normal adolescent behavior. The movement to “Ban the Box” on…
Over the past two decades, even the most minor criminal convictions have become lifetime barriers to the necessities of life – jobs, housing, education, and much more. The most effective public policy strategy to address these many barriers is to eliminate the record. A new proposal known as “Clean Slate” (SB 529/HB 1419) is a…
As of November 14, 2016, people with certain misdemeanor convictions can ask the court to seal their record. A sealed record will only be available to law enforcement. It will NOT be available to employers or the public. You may be eligible if all of the following apply: 1. You were convicted (plead guilty or were found guilty) of…
How did that happen? On September 30, 2014, the Philadelphia courts issued an official order stating they will no longer collect money owed for any bail judgments issued before March 4, 2010 for missed court dates. Can I stop paying on my bail judgments? Yes, you should stop paying if they were issued before March 4,…
Learn more about expungements in general. Learn more about finding work with a criminal record WHAT IS A SUMMARY OFFENSE? A summary offense is the most minor type of criminal offense in Pennsylvania, and is often called a “non-traffic citation.” Summary offenses can include disorderly conduct, loitering, harassment, and low-level retail theft, among others. A…
