Suppose you have a conviction for a non-traffic summary offense in Pennsylvania. In that case, you may wonder whether the records can be expunged. Fortunately, in most cases, you can take steps to get the court to expunge the summary citation and have it removed from your record. As an experienced PA summary offense expungement lawyer, I can help you get your record cleared and restore your personal reputation and professional opportunities.
Why it is Critical to Expunge Your PA Summary Citation Record
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, over 77 million Americans, or one out of 3 adults, have a criminal record. A person with a criminal history will often have difficulty finding employment in Pennsylvania or other parts of the United States.
As a result, many job seekers with a criminal record will have fewer employment opportunities and settle for lower-paying and lower-skilled jobs. In addition, a criminal record can negatively affect many other aspects of your life.
Therefore, taking the necessary steps to erase your summary offense and clear your criminal history is essential.
A Summary Offense Record Can Ruin Your Reputation
A conviction or citation for disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, harassment, retail theft, or trespass carries a negative social stigma. Unfortunately, an employer, neighbor, family relative, or co-worker may use your summary conviction record to draw unfair conclusions about your personal character.
A Record for a Summary Offense Can Limit Your Employment Prospects
Many people ask: Do employers care about summary offenses? Unfortunately, they do. Today’s job market is highly competitive. As a result, hiring managers examine all potential employee’s backgrounds for company liability and other reasons.
It is wise to assume that most employers will conduct a PA employment background check before making a job offer. Do you have a summary offense criminal history? If so, many employers will use that to deny employment to someone otherwise qualified. Do not let that happen to you.
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Don’t Lose That Next Job Offer Due to Your Record
Given the high demand for jobs in certain professions, when given a choice, most companies will choose the job candidate without a criminal record.
To make matters worse, in most cases, the employer will not admit you were denied employment due to your criminal record. Also, a criminal summary citation conviction may make it almost impossible for you to find jobs in law enforcement, healthcare, finance, retail, or even a ride-sharing company.
Can You Be Fired for a Summary Offense?
Yes. Your employer can terminate your employment or demote you if they discover that you have been convicted of certain summary offenses. The most serious summary offenses from an employer’s perspective include harassment, public drunkenness, and retail theft.
The employers in industries most likely to fire an employee for a summary arrest or conviction include jobs in the healthcare, daycare, financial, eldercare, and retail services industries.
Contact a PA Summary Offense Expungement Attorney
Do you have a record for a summary offense in PA? Are you searching for an expungement lawyer near me? If you do, I have over a decade of experience helping people erase their summary records through the Pennsylvania summary offense expungement process in Bucks County, Delaware County, Philadelphia County, and Chester County, Pennsylvania.
In addition, I am one of the most experienced expungement lawyers in Montgomery County, PA. Contact me at (215) 752-5282 for a free initial consultation, or fill out the confidential contact form for an immediate response.
I can explain the expungement process in PA. Also, appointments are available during the weekend and after weekday business hours.
What is a Summary Offense?
There are many different types of summary offenses in Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania summary offense is a minor criminal charge that does not involve a violation of Pennsylvania’s traffic laws.
If a judge found you guilty of a non-traffic summary charge, you probably paid a fine and court costs through the mail or in person at the courthouse.
Also, a judge may have found you guilty of a summary charge after a summary trial. In either situation, the summary conviction remains on your record unless you file a petition under the Pennsylvania expungement law. Therefore, you should reach out to a lawyer for expungement.
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Does a Shoplifting Ticket Go on Your Record?
Yes. Unfortunately, a shoplifting ticket becomes part of your criminal record when the police file it with the court. Consequently, you erase your summary retail theft records if eligible. Contact me to discuss the options to expunge your shoplifting criminal record.
How Long do Summary Offenses Stay on Record?
It depends on whether the court convicted you of the citation or the judge or prosecutor dismissed the charge. Review the section below to see how quickly you can get your summary record expunged.
When Can a Summary Offense be Expunged in PA?
Check the above list of summary offenses in PA. You can petition the court for expungement of a non-traffic summary citation in the following circumstances:
- The magisterial district judge found you not guilty of the summary offense
- The magisterial district judge withdrew or dismissed the summary citation
- You were found guilty of the summary offense, 5 years have passed, you have paid the court costs and fines, and you have remained arrest-free
- A Court of Common Pleas judge found you not guilty of the summary charge after a summary appeal hearing
- You were convicted of underage drinking as an adult; you are now 21 years of age; you have remained arrest-free, and you paid all of the court costs and fines
- You were a juvenile at the time of the offense, and you completed a diversion program such as a Youth Aid Panel
- You were convicted of underage drinking as a minor (under 18 years old); you are now 18 years of age or older, 6 months have passed, you have remained arrest-free, and you completed all of the conditions of your sentence
Do you have a summary offense on your record? Do not hesitate to contact me for a free consultation. I can provide detailed information about the expungement process and how I can help you.
Can a Public Intoxication Ticket be Expunged?
Yes. If the judge dismissed the citation, found you not guilty, or if the police withdrew the charge.
You are also eligible for expungement of a summary public intoxication ticket if you were convicted of the offense, 5 years have gone by, and you are free of arrest and prosecution and you paid off the court fines and costs.
Finally, a judge will grant the expungement of a summary public intoxication record if you completed a diversion program.
Do I need a Lawyer for Expungement
One of the most frequent questions clients I receive is: Do you need a lawyer to expunge your record? Under Pennsylvania law, you can petition the court for expungement of your summary crime without an attorney.
The expungement procedure involves court filings, notice requirements, court deadlines, and a possible evidentiary court hearing.
Suppose some or all of the procedures are not followed correctly. In that case, the court will reject or dismiss your petition, and you will be required to start again. You should retain an experienced lawyer to expunge criminal record to avoid this.
How to get a Summary Offense Expunged in PA
In most Pennsylvania Counties, the summary expungement process takes place in the following stages:
- The expungement lawyer files a Petition for Summary Expungement with the county clerk of courts
- The district attorney has 30 days to object, consent, or take no action on the Summary Expungement Petition
- Within 45 days of the filing of the Summary Expungement Petition, the judge will either:
- Grant the expungement petition
- Deny the expungement petition; or
- Schedule a hearing on the expungement petition
- If the court schedules a hearing, the judge will either grant or reject the expungement petition
Expungement Hearing
You may wonder what happens at an expungement hearing. If the judge schedules a hearing, the Petitioner and the District Attorney can present legal arguments and evidence in favor or against your request to the summary offense expungement request.
After the expungement hearing, the judge will either grant or deny the petition. If the judge orders the summary expungement, the court will enter a written order directing the expungement of your criminal records.
I will help you make the strongest case for the expungement of your record if the court schedules your petition for a hearing.
How Long Does It Take to Get Your Record Expunged
Approximately 3 to 4 months. The Pennsylvania summary expungement process begins when a lawyer files the petition with the clerk of courts in the county where the offense occurred.
Assuming that the district attorney does not object to the expungement, the judge will sign the expungement order within 6 weeks after your attorney files the expungement request.
The clerk of courts will send a certified copy of the expungement order to all agencies that possess the records of your summary citation. Finally, all agencies should verify the destruction of the summary offense records within 90 days after receiving the expungement order.
Expungement Lawyer
Do you have a criminal record for a PA summary offense? Are you interested in finding out how to expunge a summary offense? I have extensive experience with the Pennsylvania summary offense expungement process in Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Philadelphia County.
Contact me at (215) 752-5282 for a free initial consultation, or fill out the confidential contact form for an immediate response. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day.
