The dreaded box can appear on an application for employment, a professional license, or a rental agreement for an apartment: Check here if you have ever been convicted of a crime. For people who are carrying a long-ago conviction for a non-violent crime or misdemeanor on their records, the remainder of the application process can feel futile and unjust.

Additionally, recent changes in Pennsylvania state law now require criminal background checks in order for you to participate in any events at your children’s school. The marijuana possession conviction you had 15 years ago could prevent you from serving ice cream at your child’s classroom party.

Fortunately, Pennsylvania offers the possibility to have your criminal record expunged in a few specific circumstances. When your record is expunged, all public records of your arrests and criminal charges are destroyed, with one exception: a single copy that is available only to law enforcement agencies. Information on that record does not appear on background checks.

Attorneys from the Delaware County firm of Raffaele Puppio can help you determine whether you are eligible for expungement and can assist you with the process.

Recent News

• Raffaele Puppio Welcomes Litigation Attorney Jennifer M. Ganley

  Delaware County full-service law firm Raffaele Puppio is pleased to welcome attorney Jennifer M. Ganley to the firm as an associate in 2022 and practices in the firm's litigation department. Read More...

• Raffaele Puppio's Ernest Spiros Angelos Named Among Delaware County's Top Business Lawyers

  Main Line Today lists Delaware County attorney among ‘Top Lawyers 2017’ for business law Read More...

• Stop Saying That: Phrases That Even Inigo Montoya Would Tire of Hearing (Precedent Magazine)

  Education law and government services attorney, Tracey Waldmann, shares insights with other lawyers about effective use of language. Some of the overused phrases include: “With all due respect,” “at the end of the day,” and others. Read More...

From The Blog

• Delaware County’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program

  February 7, 2019

  Delaware County’s District Attorney’s Office understands that not all offenders require harsh punishment to deter future criminal activity. With this understanding, the district attorney’s office offers a program for first-time offenders who are unlikely to commit another crime. That program is called the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program. What types of cases are eligible for... Read More...

• What You Should Know About the Pennsylvania Clean Slate Law

  January 24, 2019

  In mid-2018, Governor Tom Wolf signed into effect Bill 1419, some portions of which became effective law on December 26, 2018.  Known as the Pennsylvania Clean Slate law, this new law effectively allows for those who have been convicted of certain non-violent crimes to seal those convictions from public records and disallow for any employers,... Read More...

• Probation Violations in Pennsylvania

  November 1, 2018

  Probation allows a person convicted of a crime to avoid incarceration and remain in the community under a probation officer’s supervision as long as the person agrees to follow certain terms and conditions imposed by the court. These conditions are imposed not only to protect the public, but also to assist with the individual’s rehabilitation... Read More...

• Refusing to Submit to Chemical Testing in a DUI Case

  June 29, 2017

  Being involved in the criminal justice system in any way is never an ideal situation. However, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is one of the most common criminal charges that people face. Therefore, if you do find yourself involved in the criminal justice system as a result of being charged with DUI, it is important... Read More...

• New Types of Protection Orders Available in Pennsylvania

  November 23, 2016

  Most attorneys are aware of the protections available to clients through Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse Act, but new alternative protective orders expand the protections offered to victims of sexual violence and intimidation in Pennsylvania. The protections afforded under the PFA Act are conditioned upon the victim being a spouse/former spouse, a parent of a child... Read More...