Lehigh Valley Expungements & Pennsylvania Pardons
Expungement Lawyers in Easton, Bethlehem & Allentown.
Applying for Expungements & Pardons in the Lehigh Valley can be simple with the help of our Easton Expungement Attorneys
Our Lehigh Valley Expungement Attorneys have successfully achieved Pardons, Expungements & Limited Access Expungements for clients seeking to move forward without the stigma of a publicly accessible criminal record. Hopefully your criminal defense attorney discussed expungements with you at the time of your conviction. If not, our Easton Expungement Lawyers may still be able to help.
Pardons & Expungements can remove convictions from a criminal record, as if they never happened. Any criminal conviction is eligible to be pardoned but the likelihood of that pardon being granted is often low. Whereas only very limited criminal convictions are eligible to be expunged but the likelihood of achieving an expungement of an eligible criminal record is much higher in the Lehigh Valley.
The Governor makes the final clemency decision, but an unconditional pardon cannot be granted without the written recommendation required by article IV, section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The process begins with the constitutionally established Board of Pardons rather than the county courts.
On the other hand, Expungements are overseen by the Lehigh Valley court system and, in many cases, a petition may qualify for relief under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 or another applicable provision; notice, objections, and court procedure depend on the type of record and relief requested.
Outside of both Pardons and Traditional Expungements are Limited Access Expungements. Limited Access expungements are not a true destruction of criminal records but rather a way of hiding the records from the public eye. The majority of non-violent misdemeanors may be eligible for a Limited Access Expungement after a certain amount of time.
Pardon
Expungement
Limited Access Order
Benefits of Pardons & Expungements in The Lehigh Valley
Our Easton Expungement Lawyers make it simple
1. Career Benefits
Lehigh Valley Employers look at criminal records. Our Expungement Attorneys in Easton can help.
Unfortunately criminal records can be detrimental to obtaining employment as well as advancing past a certain promotional level.
Many professional and occupational licensing agencies will not issue licenses to individuals convicted of certain crimes. Obtaining a Pardon or Expungement can open doors that would otherwise remained closed to an individual.
The practical value and legal effect of record relief depend on the person’s circumstances. Contact our expungement lawyers in Easton for help.
2. Restoration of Firearm & Voting Rights
How different forms of relief may affect legal rights
Certain convictions prohibit individuals from buying, possessing or carrying firearms. Additionally although Pennsylvania does not prohibited citizens with criminal records from voting, other states may not allow citizens to vote based upon their Pennsylvania convictions. A pardon or expungement may affect some legal disabilities, but the effect on firearm, licensing, immigration, or out-of-state rights depends on the exact record, the relief granted, and applicable Pennsylvania and federal law.
Should I Apply for a Pardon or Expungement?
What is the difference between a pardon & and expungement in Pennsylvania?
A pardon and an expungement have different functions. Current Board guidance advises that the ordinary clemency process may take a few years. Limited access, statutory expungement, and pardon relief each have different eligibility rules and effects, so the correct path depends on the exact record and the reason relief is needed.
The Pardon Process in Pennsylvania
What to Expect
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons
The Board consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, and three Senate-confirmed gubernatorial appointees: a crime victim, a corrections expert, and a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
The Pardon Process
After application processing and a Department of Corrections investigation, the Board conducts merit review and, if approved, a public hearing. A favorable recommendation is sent to the Governor, who makes the final decision. Current Board guidance advises that the process may take a few years.
Since June 11, 2024, convictions receiving an unconditional pardon are transmitted through the automatic expungement process under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a.1). A pardoned applicant should verify that the process was completed accurately, but a separate expungement petition is not ordinarily required for a conviction covered by that provision.
Are you seeking a Pardon & Expungement in the Lehigh Valley?
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About This Information
This page addresses Pennsylvania law and common practice in Northampton and Lehigh Counties. Court procedures, deadlines, and available remedies can change and may depend on the facts, the assigned judge, and the governing order. The linked official sources should be checked for later amendments, and advice should be based on the specific matter.
Detailed Lehigh Valley Guidance
The overview above addresses immediate decisions. The sections below provide additional local and topic-specific detail.
Lehigh Valley Expungements & Pennsylvania Pardons
Expungement Lawyers in Easton, Bethlehem & Allentown.
Applying for Expungements & Pardons in the Lehigh Valley can be simple with the help of our Easton Expungement Attorneys
Our Lehigh Valley Expungement Attorneys have successfully achieved Pardons, Expungements & Limited Access Expungements for hundreds of clients who can now move forwards without the stigma of a criminal record. Hopefully your criminal defense attorney discussed expungements with you at the time of your conviction. If not, our Easton Expungement Lawyers may still be able to help.
Pardons, statutory expungement, and limited-access relief are different remedies with different eligibility rules and effects. The Board of Pardons publishes no categorical ordinary-clemency bar for Pennsylvania convictions, but filing an application does not guarantee a recommendation or a gubernatorial pardon. The effect of any relief depends on the jurisdiction, record, type of relief, and completion of any applicable expungement process under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.
The Governor makes the final clemency decision, but an unconditional pardon cannot be granted without the written recommendation required by article IV, section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The process begins with the constitutionally established Board of Pardons rather than the county courts.
On the other hand, Expungements are overseen by the Lehigh Valley court system and, in many cases, a petition may qualify for relief under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 or another applicable provision; notice, objections, and court procedure depend on the type of record and relief requested.
Outside of both Pardons and Traditional Expungements are Limited Access Expungements. Limited Access expungements are not a true destruction of criminal records but rather a way of hiding the records from the public eye. The majority of non-violent misdemeanors may be eligible for a Limited Access Expungement after a certain amount of time.
Pardon
Expungement
Limited Access Order
Benefits of Pardons & Expungements in The Lehigh Valley
Our Easton Expungement Lawyers make it simple