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Bill

HB 2356

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in criminal history record information, further providing for expungement.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Aerion Abney and 17 co-sponsors

HB 2356 modifies Pennsylvania's criminal record expungement criteria, expanding or restricting eligibility for individuals seeking to clear prior convictions from public records.

Referred to Judiciary
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2356

Legislative bill overview

HB 2356 amends Pennsylvania's criminal history record expungement laws under Title 18. The bill modifies existing provisions governing when and how individuals can have their criminal records removed or sealed from public access. Specific amendments to the expungement framework would alter eligibility criteria, timelines, or procedures for record clearance.

Why is this important

Criminal record expungement directly affects employment, housing, education, and professional licensing opportunities for individuals with past convictions. Changes to expungement laws impact both individual rehabilitation efforts and public safety considerations. Pennsylvania's expungement policies influence how broadly people can move forward after criminal justice involvement.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of eligibility: Whether expungement should apply to all offenses (misdemeanors, felonies, violent crimes) or remain limited to specific categories
  • Public safety vs. rehabilitation balance: Tension between enabling second chances and maintaining law enforcement access to criminal histories for safety determinations
  • Fiscal and administrative burden: Implementation costs for courts and law enforcement agencies to process and manage expanded expungement requests

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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