Lower-level criminal convictions are now being automatically sealed in Pennsylvania.
A new phase of the “Clean Slate” law went into effect Friday.
The law, the first of its kind, was among a raft of proposed criminal justice reforms that have been sweeping the nation. Supporters said it was designed to help people who did their time, paid their fines, stayed out of trouble for a decade and still found themselves facing hurdles to housing and employment as the result of an old record.
The court system plans to seal roughly 2.5 million records a month for the next year, including summary offenses, less serious misdemeanors and those that do not involve convictions. The court is starting with the most recent cases and will eventually go back to the 60s and 70s.
Democratic Governor Tom Wolf said criminal records can be a barrier to education, housing and health care.
Defendants are not eligible if they have a prior criminal history that includes a felony, two first-degree misdemeanors or four second-degree misdemeanors.
The post Millions Of Records Sealed In Criminal Justice Reform Effort appeared first on ButlerRadio.com – Butler, PA.
