THE COURTS
Title 234—RULES OF
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
[234 PA. CODE CHS. 3, 4 AND 7]
Order Adopting Rules 490.2 and 790.2 and Amending Rules 320, 490, 790, and 791 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, No. 547 Criminal Procedural Rules Docket
[53 Pa.B. 3403]
[Saturday, July 1, 2023]
Order Per Curiam
And Now, this 14th day of June, 2023, upon the recommendation of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee; the proposal having been published for public comment at 51 Pa.B. 5587 (September 4, 2021):
It is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that Rules 490.2 and 790.2 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure are adopted in the attached form and Rules 320, 490, 790, and 791 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure are amended in the attached form.
This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 103(b), and shall be effective April 1, 2024.
Additions to the rule are shown in bold and are underlined.
Deletions from the rule are shown in bold and brackets.
Annex A
TITLE 234. RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 3. ACCELERATED REHABILITATIVE DISPOSITION (ARD)
PART B. Court Cases Rule 320. Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 4. PROCEDURES IN SUMMARY CASES
PART H. Summary Case Expungement Procedures (Editor's Note: Rule 490 as printed in 234 Pa. Code reads ''Official Note'' rather than ''Note.'')
Rule 490. Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Summary Cases; Expungement Order.
([A]a) [PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT] Petition for Expungement.
(1) Except as provided in Rule 320 (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program) and Rule 490.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Summary Cases; Expungement Order), an individual who satisfies the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and 18 Pa.C.S. § 9123(a) for expungement of a summary case may request expungement by filing a petition with the clerk of the courts of the judicial district in which the charges were disposed.
(2) The petition shall set forth:
([a]i) the petitioner's name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
([b]ii) the name and address of the issuing authority who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
([c]iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
([d]iv) the magisterial district court number;
([e]v) the docket number;
([f]vi) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
([g]vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
([h]viii) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
([i]ix) the reason(s) for expungement; and
([j]x) a verification by the petitioner that facts set forth in the petition are true and correct to the best of the petitioner's personal knowledge or information and belief. The verification may be by a sworn affidavit or by an unsworn written statement that the facts are verified subject to the penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities under the Crimes Code § 4904, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(3) Unless the attorney for the Commonwealth agrees to waive this requirement, a current copy of the petitioner's Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report shall be attached to the petition. The copy shall be obtained from the Pennsylvania State Police within 60 days before filing the petition. Absent a waiver by the attorney for the Commonwealth, the judge shall not rule upon the petition until the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report is filed.
(4) A copy of the petition shall be served on the attorney for the Commonwealth concurrently with filing.
([B]b) [OBJECTIONS; HEARING] Objections; Hearing.
(1) Within 30 days after service of the petition, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a consent or objection to the petition or take no action. The attorney for the Commonwealth's consent or objection shall be filed with the clerk of courts, and copies shall be served on the petitioner's attorney, or the petitioner if unrepresented.
(2) Upon receipt of the attorney for the Commonwealth's response, or no later than 14 days after the expiration of the 30-day period in [paragraph] subdivision [(B)(1)] (b)(1), the judge shall grant or deny the petition or shall schedule a hearing.
(3) At the hearing, if any, the parties shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the judge promptly shall enter an order granting or denying the petition.
(4) If the judge grants the petition for expungement, the judge shall enter an order directing expungement.
([a]i) The order shall contain the information required in [paragraph] subdivision [(C)] (c).
([b]ii) Except when the attorney for the Commonwealth has filed a consent to the petition pursuant to [paragraph] subdivision [(B)(1)] (b)(1), the order shall be stayed for 30 days pending an appeal. If a timely notice of appeal is filed, the expungement order is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal and further order of court.
(5) If the judge denies the petition for expungement, the judge shall enter an order denying the petition and stating the reasons for the denial.
([C]c) [ORDER] Order.
(1) Every order for expungement shall include:
([a]i) the petitioner's name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
([b]ii) the name and address of the issuing authority who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
([c]iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
([d]iv) the magisterial district court number;
([e]v) the docket number;
([f]vi) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
([g]vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
([h]viii) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
([i]ix) the reason(s) for expungement; and
([j]x) the criminal justice agencies upon which certified copies of the order shall be served.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(2) The clerk of courts shall serve a certified copy of the [O]order to each criminal justice agency identified in the court's [O]order and to all other entities required to be notified by statute.
Comment: This rule, adopted in 2010, provides the procedures for requesting and ordering expungement in summary cases. Any case in which a summary offense is filed with a misdemeanor, felony, or murder of the first, second, or third degree is a court case (see Rule 103). The petition for expungement of the summary offense in such a case would proceed under Rule 790.
This rule was amended in 2019 to clarify that the procedures under this rule are to be used for summary convictions for offenses committed when the defendant is under 18 years of age. This would include any summary conviction that also has been certified to juvenile court pursuant to Pa.R.J.C.P. 200(3) and 42 Pa.C.S. § 6304.1. In such cases, two expungement petitions would need to be filed: one would be filed pursuant to Pa.R.J.C.P. 170 to expunge the record of the juvenile proceeding and the second would be filed pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 490 to expunge the underlying summary conviction.
See also Rule 320 [for the procedures for expungement following the successful completion of an ARD program in a summary case and] (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program); Rule 790 [for court case expungement procedures.] (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Court Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 791 (Procedure for Obtaining Order for Limited Access in Court Cases; Order for Limited Access); 35 P.S. § 780-119 for expungement procedures under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; and for expungement procedures in cases satisfying the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4) regarding complete acquittals, see Rule 490.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Summary Cases; Expungement Order) and Rule 790.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Court Cases; Expungement Order).
This rule sets forth the only information that is to be included in every expungement petition and order.
[Paragraph] Subdivision [(A)(3)] (a)(3) requires the petitioner to attach a copy of his or her criminal history report to the petition. The attorney for the Commonwealth may waive the requirement that the criminal history report be attached to the petition. The Commonwealth's agreement to the waiver may be made orally or in writing, or averred in the petition.
A form petition and form order of expungement has been created by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, in consultation with the Committee, and is available at the following website: http://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public.
''Petition,'' as used in this rule, is a ''motion'' for purposes of Rules 575, 576, and 577.
The ''reason for expungement'' in [paragraph] subdivisions [(A)(2)(i)] (a)(2)(ix) and [(C)(1)(i)] (c)(1)(ix) means, for example, acquittal, arrest or prosecution free for five years following the conviction for that summary offense, or age.
For the procedures for filing and service of petitions, see Rule 576.
For the procedures for filing and service of orders, see Rule 114.
For purposes of this rule, ''criminal justice agency'' includes police departments, county detectives, and other law enforcement agencies. See also 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102.
Subdivision (c)(2) requires the clerk of courts to serve each criminal justice agency identified in the court's order as well as all other entities required to be notified by statute. See, e.g., 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(3) (requiring the court to order the expungement of all administrative records of the Department of Transportation relating to a conviction pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308 when that conviction is ordered to be expunged).
Concerning standing, see In Re Administrative Order No. 1-MD-2003, 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007); Commonwealth v. J.H., 759 A.2d 1269 (Pa. 2000).
[Note: Adopted September 22, 2010 effective in 90 days; amended November 1, 2016, effective November 14, 2016 amended March 1, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the September 22, 2010 promulgation of new Rule 490 providing the procedures for expungements in summary cases published with the Court's Order at 40 Pa.B. 5737 (October 9, 2010).
Final Report explaining the November 9, 2016 amendment regarding the stay of expungement when the Commonwealth has consented and petition and order forms published for comment at 46 Pa.B. 7439 (November 26, 2016).
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2019 amendment regarding expungement of summary offenses when the defendant is under 18 years of age published with the Court's Order at 49 Pa.B. 1121 (March 16, 2019).]
The following text is entirely new.
(Editor's Note: The following rule is printed in regular type to enhance readability.)
Rule 490.2. Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Summary Cases; Expungement Order.
(a) Notice of Acquittal.
(1) In any summary case in which the defendant has been acquitted of all charges as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4), the issuing authority shall promptly, but no later than 20 days after acquittal, notify either the clerk of courts of the judicial district in which the charges were disposed or, if the charges were disposed of in the Philadelphia Municipal Court, the clerk of Municipal Court.
(2) Within 10 days of receipt of the notification from the issuing authority, the clerk of courts or the clerk of Municipal Court, whichever applies, shall notify the defendant, defense counsel, if any, and the attorney for the Commonwealth that the case shall be ordered expunged, unless an objection is filed by the attorney for the Commonwealth.
(3) Thereafter, the case shall proceed as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this rule.
(4) The notice issued by the clerk of courts or by the clerk of Municipal Court under subdivision (a)(2) shall set forth:
(i) the defendant's name and any aliases that the defendant has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
(ii) the name and address of the issuing authority who heard the case;
(iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
(iv) the magisterial district court number, if applicable;
(v) the docket number;
(vi) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
(vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged; and
(viii) a statement that all the charges resulted in a not guilty finding.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(b) Objections; Hearing.
(1) Within 60 days after service of the notice, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a consent or objection to the expungement or take no action. The attorney for the Commonwealth's consent or objection shall be filed in the court of common pleas or the Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies, and copies shall be served on the defendant and defense counsel, if any.
(2) Upon receipt of the attorney for the Commonwealth's response, or no later than 14 days after the expiration of the 60-day period in subdivision (b)(1), the court of common pleas or the Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies, shall grant the expungement or, when an objection is filed, shall schedule a hearing unless waived by the parties and the court.
(3) At the hearing, if any, the defendant and the attorney for the Commonwealth shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the judge promptly shall enter an order granting or denying the expungement.
(4) If the judge grants the expungement, the judge shall enter an order directing expungement.
(i) The order shall contain the information required in subdivision (c).
(ii) Except when the attorney for the Commonwealth has filed a consent pursuant to subdivision (b)(1), the order shall be stayed for 30 days pending an appeal. If a timely notice of appeal is filed, the expungement order is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal and further order of court.
(5) If the judge denies the expungement, the judge shall enter an order denying the expungement and stating the reasons for the denial.
(6) The judge shall issue the order granting or denying the expungement in writing, with copies to the defendant, defense counsel, if any, and the attorney for the Commonwealth, and shall make the order a part of the docket.
(c) Order.
(1) Every order for expungement shall include:
(i) the defendant's name and any aliases that the defendant has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
(ii) the name and address of the issuing authority who heard the case;
(iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
(iv) the magisterial district court number, if applicable;
(v) the docket number;
(vi) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
(vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
(viii) a statement that all the charges resulted in a not guilty finding; and
(ix) the criminal justice agencies upon which certified copies of the order shall be served.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(2) The clerk of courts shall serve a certified copy of the order to each criminal justice agency identified in the court's order and to all other entities required to be notified by statute.
Comment: This rule was adopted in 2023 to provide procedures for the expungement of summary cases that resulted in acquittals as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4).
For the ability of the parties, with the consent of the court, to waive a hearing pursuant to subdivision (b)(2), see 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4)(iii).
See also Rule 320 (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program); Rule 490 (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Summary Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 790 (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Court Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 791 (Procedure for Obtaining Order for Limited Access in Court Cases; Order for Limited Access); 35 P.S. § 780-119 for expungement procedures under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; and for expungement procedures in court cases satisfying the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4) regarding complete acquittals, see Rule 790.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Court Cases; Expungement Order).
CHAPTER 7. POST-TRIAL PROCEDURES IN COURT CASES
PART C. Court Case Expungement Procedures (Editor's Note: Rule 790 as printed in 234 Pa. Code reads ''Official Note'' rather than ''Note.'')
Rule 790. Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Court Cases; Expungement Order.
([A]a) [PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT] Petition for Expungement.
(1) Except as provided in Rule 320 (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program), Rule 790.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Court Cases; Expungement Order), and 35 P.S. § 780-119, an individual who satisfies the requirements for expungement may request expungement by filing a petition with the clerk of the courts of the judicial district in which the charges were disposed.
(2) The petition shall set forth:
([a]i) the petitioner's name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
([b]ii) the name and address of the judge of the court of common pleas who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
([c]iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint, if available;
([d]iv) the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket number or the court of common pleas docket number, whichever applies;
([e]v) the offense tracking number (OTN);
([f]vi) the date on the complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
([g]vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
([h]viii) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
([i]ix) the reason(s) for expungement; and
([j]x) a verification by the petitioner that facts set forth in the petition are true and correct to the best of the petitioner's personal knowledge or information and belief. The verification may be by a sworn affidavit or by an unsworn written statement that the facts are verified subject to the penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities under the Crimes Code § 4904, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(3) Unless the attorney for the Commonwealth agrees to waive this requirement, a current copy of the petitioner's Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report shall be attached to the petition. The copy shall be obtained from the Pennsylvania State Police within 60 days before filing the petition. Absent a waiver by the attorney for the Commonwealth, the judge shall not rule upon the petition until the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report is filed.
(4) A copy of the petition shall be served on the attorney for the Commonwealth concurrently with filing.
([B]b) [OBJECTIONS; HEARING] Objections; Hearing.
(1) Within 60 days after service of the petition, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a consent or objection to the petition or take no action. The attorney for the Commonwealth's consent or objection shall be filed with the clerk of courts, and copies shall be served on the petitioner's attorney, or the petitioner if unrepresented.
(2) Upon receipt of the attorney for the Commonwealth's response, or no later than 14 days after the expiration of the 60-day period in [paragraph] subdivision [(B)(1)] (b)(1), the judge shall grant or deny the petition or shall schedule a hearing.
(3) At the hearing, if any, the parties shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the judge promptly shall enter an order granting or denying the petition.
(4) If the judge grants the petition for expungement, the judge shall enter an order directing expungement.
([a]i) The order shall contain the information required in [paragraph ] subdivision [(C)] (c).
([b]ii) Except when the attorney for the Commonwealth has filed a consent to the petition pursuant to [paragraph] subdivision [(B)(1)] (b)(1), the order shall be stayed for 30 days pending an appeal. If a timely notice of appeal is filed, the expungement order is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal and further order of court.
(5) If the judge denies the petition for expungement, the judge shall enter an order denying the petition and stating the reasons for the denial.
([C]c) [ORDER] Order.
(1) Every order for expungement shall include:
([a]i) the petitioner's name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
([b]ii) the name and address of the judge of the court of common pleas who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
([c]iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint, if available;
([d]iv) the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket number or the court of common pleas docket number, whichever applies;
([e]v) the offense tracking number (OTN);
([f]vi) the date on the complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
([g]vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
([h]viii) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
([i]ix) the reason(s) for expungement; and
([j]x) the criminal justice agencies upon which certified copies of the order shall be served.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(2) The clerk of courts shall serve a certified copy of the [O]order to each criminal justice agency identified in the court's [O]order and to all other entities required to be notified by statute.
Comment: This rule, adopted in 2010, provides the procedures for requesting and ordering expungement in court cases. Any case in which a summary offense is filed with a misdemeanor, felony, or murder of the first, second, or third degree is a court case (see Rule 103). The petition for expungement of the summary offense in such a case would proceed under this rule.
See also Rule 320 [for the procedures for expungement following the successful completion of an ARD program in a court case,] (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program); Rule 490 [for summary case expungement procedures,] (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Summary Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 791 (Procedure for Obtaining Order for Limited Access in Court Cases; Order for Limited Access); [and] 35 P.S. § 780-119 for expungement procedures under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; and for expungement procedures in cases satisfying the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4) regarding complete acquittals, see Rule 490.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Summary Cases; Expungement Order) and Rule 790.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Court Cases; Expungement Order).
This rule sets forth the only information that must be included in every expungement petition and order.
[Paragraph] Subdivision [(A)(3)] (a)(3) requires the petitioner to attach a copy of his or her criminal history report to the petition. The attorney for the Commonwealth may waive the requirement that the criminal history report be attached to the petition. The Commonwealth's agreement to the waiver may be made orally or in writing, or averred in the petition.
An order for expungement under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, 35 P.S. § 780-119, also must include the information in [paragraph] subdivision [(C)] (c).
A form petition and form order of expungement has been created by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, in consultation with the Committee, and is available at the following website: http://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public.
''Petition,'' as used in this rule, is a ''motion'' for purposes of Rules 575, 576, and 577.
The ''reason for expungement'' in [paragraph] subdivisions [(A)(2)(i)] (a)(2)(ix) and [(C)(1)(i)] (c)(1)(ix) means, for example, acquittal or age.
For the procedures for filing and service of petitions, see Rule 576.
For the procedures for filing and service of orders, see Rule 114.
When a summons instead of an arrest warrant is issued pursuant to Rule 519, the date of the summons constitutes the ''date of arrest'' for purposes of [paragraph] subdivision [(A)(2)(f)] (a)(2)(vi).
Subdivision (c)(2) requires the clerk of courts to serve each criminal justice agency identified in the court's order as well as all other entities required to be notified by statute. See, e.g., 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(3) (requiring the court to order the expungement of all administrative records of the Department of Transportation relating to a conviction pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308 when that conviction is ordered to be expunged).
For purposes of this rule, ''criminal justice agency'' includes police departments, county detectives, and other law enforcement agencies. See also 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102.
Concerning standing, see In Re Administrative Order No. 1-MD-2003, 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007); Commonwealth v. J.H., 759 A.2d 1269 (Pa. 2000).
[Note: Adopted September 22, 2010 effective in 90 days; amended November 1, 2016, effective November 14, 2016.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the September 22, 2010 promulgation of new Rule 790 providing the procedures for expungements in court cases published with the Court's Order at 40 Pa.B. 5737 (October 9, 2010).
Final Report explaining the November 9, 2016 amendment regarding the stay of expungement when the Commonwealth has consented and petition and order forms published with the Court's Order at 46 Pa.B. 7439 (November 26, 2016).]
The following text is entirely new.
(Editor's Note: The following rule is printed in regular type to enhance readability.)
Rule 790.2. Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Court Cases; Expungement Order.
(a) Notice of Acquittal.
(1) In any court case in which the defendant has been acquitted of all charges as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4), within 10 days of the entry of the acquittal, the clerk of courts of the judicial district in which the charges were disposed or, if the charges were disposed of in the Philadelphia Municipal Court, the clerk of Municipal Court shall notify the defendant, defense counsel, if any, and the attorney for the Commonwealth that the case shall be ordered expunged, unless an objection is filed by the attorney for the Commonwealth.
(2) Thereafter, the case shall proceed as provided in subdivision (b) and (c) of this rule.
(3) The notice issued by the clerk of courts or by the clerk of Municipal Court under subdivision (a)(1) shall set forth:
(i) the defendant's name and any aliases that the defendant has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
(ii) the name and address of the judge of the court of common pleas or of the Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies, who heard the case;
(iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
(iv) the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket number or the court of common pleas docket number, whichever applies;
(v) the offense tracking number (OTN);
(vi) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
(vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged; and
(viii) a statement that all the charges resulted in a not guilty finding.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(b) Objections; Hearing.
(1) Within 60 days after service of the notice, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a consent or objection to the expungement or take no action. The attorney for the Commonwealth's consent or objection shall be filed in the court of common pleas or the Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies, and copies shall be served on the defendant and defense counsel, if any.
(2) Upon receipt of the attorney for the Commonwealth's response, or no later than 14 days after the expiration of the 60-day period in subdivision (b)(1), the court of common pleas or the Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies, shall grant the expungement or, when an objection is filed, shall schedule a hearing unless waived by the parties and the court.
(3) At the hearing, if any, the defendant and the attorney for the Commonwealth shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the judge promptly shall enter an order granting or denying the expungement.
(4) If the judge grants the expungement, the judge shall enter an order directing expungement.
(i) The order shall contain the information required in subdivision (c).
(ii) Except when the attorney for the Commonwealth has filed a consent pursuant to subdivision (b)(1), the order shall be stayed for 30 days pending an appeal. If a timely notice of appeal is filed, the expungement order is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal and further order of court.
(5) If the judge denies the expungement, the judge shall enter an order denying the expungement and stating the reasons for the denial.
(6) The judge shall issue the order granting or denying the expungement in writing, with copies to the defendant, defense counsel, if any, and the attorney for the Commonwealth, and shall make the order a part of the docket.
(c) Order.
(1) Every order for expungement shall include:
(i) the defendant's name and any aliases that the defendant has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
(ii) the name and address of the judge of the court of common pleas or of the Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies, who heard the case;
(iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
(iv) the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket number or the court of common pleas docket number, whichever applies;
(v) the offense tracking number (OTN);
(vi) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
(vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
(viii) a statement that all the charges resulted in a not guilty finding; and
(ix) the criminal justice agencies upon which certified copies of the order shall be served.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(2) The clerk of courts shall serve a certified copy of the order to each criminal justice agency identified in the court's order and to all other entities required to be notified by statute.
Comment: This rule was adopted in 2023 to provide procedures for the expungement of court cases that resulted in acquittals as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4).
For the ability of the parties, with the consent of the court, to waive a hearing pursuant to subdivision (b)(2), see 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4)(iii).
See also Rule 320 (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program); Rule 490 (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Summary Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 790 (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Court Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 791 (Procedure for Obtaining Order for Limited Access in Court Cases; Order for Limited Access); 35 P.S. § 780-119 for expungement procedures under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; and for expungement procedures in summary cases satisfying the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4) regarding complete acquittals, see Rule 490.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Summary Cases; Expungement Order).
(Editor's Note: Rule 791 as printed in 234 Pa. Code reads ''Official Note'' rather than ''Note.'')
Rule 791. Procedure for Obtaining Order for Limited Access in Court Cases; Order for Limited Access.
([A]a) [PETITION FOR ORDER FOR LIMITED ACCESS] Petition for Order for Limited Access.
(1) Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1, an individual who satisfies the statutory requirements for obtaining an order for limited access may request an order that limits the dissemination of his or her criminal history record information by filing a petition with the clerk of the courts of the judicial district in which the charges were disposed.
(2) The petition shall set forth:
([a]i) the petitioner's name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
([b]ii) the name and address of the judge of the court of common pleas, magisterial district judge, or Philadelphia Municipal Court judge who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
([c]iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint, if available;
([d]iv) the court of common pleas docket number, magisterial district court docket number, or the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket number, whichever applies;
([e]v) the offense tracking number (OTN);
([f]vi) the date on the complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
([g]vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be subject to limited access;
([h]viii) the disposition, whether the fee previously authorized to carry out the limited access and clean slate limited access provisions has been paid, and, if the sentence includes [a fine, costs, or] restitution, whether the amount due for restitution has been paid;
([i]ix) the reason(s) for the order for limited access;
([j]x) a statement that the case qualifies for a limited access order and none of the exceptions under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1(b) are applicable; and
([k]xi) a verification by the petitioner that facts set forth in the petition are true and correct to the best of the petitioner's personal knowledge or information and belief. The verification may be by a sworn affidavit or by an unsworn written statement that the facts are verified subject to the penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities under the Crimes Code § 4904, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(3) Unless the attorney for the Commonwealth agrees to waive this requirement, a current copy of the petitioner's Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report shall be attached to the petition. The copy shall be obtained from the Pennsylvania State Police within 60 days before filing the petition. Absent a waiver by the attorney for the Commonwealth, the court shall not rule upon the petition until the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report is filed.
(4) A copy of the petition shall be served on the attorney for the Commonwealth concurrently with filing.
([B]b) [OBJECTIONS; HEARING] Objections; Hearing.
(1) Within 30 days after service of the petition, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a consent or objection to the petition or take no action. The attorney for the Commonwealth's consent or objection shall be filed with the clerk of courts, and copies shall be served on the petitioner's attorney, or the petitioner if unrepresented.
(2) Upon receipt of the attorney for the Commonwealth's response, or no later than 14 days after the expiration of the 30-day period in [paragraph] subdivision [(B)(1)] (b)(1), the judge of the court of common pleas shall grant or deny the petition or shall schedule a hearing.
(3) At the hearing, if any, the parties shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the judge promptly shall enter an order granting or denying the petition.
(4) If the judge grants the petition for limited access, the judge shall enter an order directing that the petitioner's criminal record history information that is subject to the limited access order shall not be disseminated to an individual, a noncriminal justice agency, or an internet website and that dissemination of the petitioner's criminal record history be limited only to a criminal justice agency or government agency as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1.
([a]i) The order shall contain the information required in [paragraph] subdivision [(C)] (c).
([b]ii) Except when the attorney for the Commonwealth has filed a consent to the petition pursuant to [paragraph] subdivision [(B)(1)] (b)(1), the order shall be stayed for 30 days pending an appeal. If a timely notice of appeal is filed, the order for limited access is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal and further order of court.
(5) If the judge denies the petition for an order of limited access, the judge shall enter an order denying the petition and stating the reasons for the denial.
(6) If the judge grants the petition for an order of limited access, the petition and order are subject to limited access.
([C]c) [ORDER] Order.
(1) Every order for limited access shall include:
([a]i) the petitioner's name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
([b]ii) the name and address of the judge of the court of common pleas, magisterial district judge, or Philadelphia Municipal Court judge who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
([c]iii) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint, if available;
([d]iv) the court of common pleas docket number, magisterial district court docket number, or the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket number, whichever applies;
([e]v) the offense tracking number (OTN);
([f]vi) the date on the complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
([g]vii) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be subject to limited access;
([h]viii) the disposition, whether the fee previously authorized to carry out the limited access and clean slate limited access provisions has been paid, and, if the sentence includes [a fine, costs, or] restitution, whether the amount due for restitution has been paid;
([i]ix) the reason(s) for the order for limited access;
([j]x) a statement that the case qualifies for a limited access order and none of the exceptions under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1(b) are applicable; and
([k]xi) the criminal justice agencies upon which certified copies of the order shall be served.
Additional information shall not be required by local rule or practice.
(2) The clerk of courts shall serve a certified copy of the [O]order to each criminal justice agency identified in the court's [O]order and to all other entities required to be notified by statute.
Comment: Section 9122.1 of the Criminal Code provides for an order limiting dissemination of a record of a criminal conviction for a misdemeanor of the second degree, a misdemeanor of the third degree, or an ungraded misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of no more than two years only to a criminal justice agency or government agency. This rule, adopted in 2016, provides the procedures for requesting and ordering an order for limited access as provided in the statute.
This rule sets forth the only information that must be included in every petition and order for limited access.
The petition must be filed with the clerk of courts of the judicial district in which the charges that are the subject of the petition were disposed. The petition must be decided by a judge of the court of common pleas, even if the charges that are the subject of the petition were disposed by a magisterial district judge or Philadelphia Municipal Court judge.
[Paragraph] Subdivision [(A)(3)] (a)(3) requires the petitioner to attach a copy of his or her criminal history report to the petition. The attorney for the Commonwealth may waive the requirement that the criminal history report be attached to the petition. The Commonwealth's agreement to the waiver may be made orally or in writing, or averred in the petition.
A form petition and form order for limited access has been created by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, in consultation with the Committee, and is available at the following website: http://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public.
''Petition,'' as used in this rule, is a ''motion'' for purposes of Rules 575, 576, and 577.
The ''reason for the order for limited access'' in [paragraph] subdivisions [(A)(2)(i)] (a)(2)(ix) and [(C)(1)(i)] (c)(1)(ix) means, for example, the defendant's freedom from arrest or prosecution for 10 years.
For the procedures for filing and service of petitions, see Rule 576.
For the procedures for filing and service of orders, see Rule 114.
When a summons instead of an arrest warrant is issued pursuant to Rule 519, the date of the summons constitutes the ''date of arrest'' for purposes of [paragraph] subdivision [(A)(2)(f)] (a)(2)(vi).
For purposes of this rule, ''criminal justice agency'' includes police departments, county detectives, and other law enforcement agencies. See also 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102. For the definition of ''government agency,'' see 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121(b.1) and (b.2).
Nothing in this rule is intended to alter procedures regarding expungement. See Rule 320 [for the procedures for expungement following the successful completion of an ARD program in a court case,] (Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program); Rule 490 [for summary case expungement procedures,] (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Summary Cases; Expungement Order); Rule 790 [for court case expungement,] (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Court Cases; Expungement Order); [and] 35 P.S. § 780-119 for expungement procedures under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act; and for expungement procedures in cases satisfying the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4) regarding complete acquittals, see Rule 490.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Summary Cases; Expungement Order) and Rule 790.2 (Procedure for Expungement of Acquittals in Court Cases; Expungement Order).
Concerning standing, see In Re Administrative Order No. 1-MD-2003, 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007); Commonwealth v. J.H., 759 A.2d 1269 (Pa. 2000).
[Note: Adopted November 1, 2016, effective November 14, 2016.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining new Rule 791 providing the procedures for orders for limited access in court cases published with the Court's Order at 46 Pa.B. 7439 (November 26, 2016).]
SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL PROCEDURAL RULES COMMITTEE
ADOPTION REPORT
Adoption of Pa.R.Crim.P. 490.2 and 790.2
Amendment of Pa.R.Crim.P. 320, 490, 790, and 791On June 14, 2023, the Supreme Court adopted Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure 490.2 and 790.2 (providing procedures for expungement of complete acquittals), and amended Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure 320, 490, 790, and 791. The Criminal Procedural Rules Committee has prepared this Adoption Report describing the rulemaking process. An Adoption Report should not be confused with Comments to the rules. See Pa.R.J.A. 103, cmt. The statements contained herein are those of the Committee, not the Court.
In October of 2020, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 was amended to provide for the ''automatic'' expungement of criminal history record information when a judicial determination has been made that a person has been acquitted of an offense. See Act of Oct. 29, 2020, P.L. 718, No. 83 (hereinafter ''Act 83''). As amended, § 9122(a)(4) requires a court to notify the parties that the case will be automatically expunged. After being notified, the Commonwealth has 60 days to object to the automatic expungement. Such objection is limited to whether a full acquittal occurred in the case. If an objection is raised, a hearing must be held.
In addition to amending 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, Act 83 amended 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 to require an individual seeking a limited access order to pay both restitution and a previously authorized fee before a court is permitted to grant the petition for limited access. Section 9122.1 was also amended to remove the requirement that a petitioner must meet all financial obligations of a sentence prior to a court granting the petition.
Preliminarily, ''automatic'' and ''automatically,'' as used in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, indicate that expungement occurs without the need for a petition from the person acquitted when the requirements of the statute have been met. Automatic expungement does not, however, apply to a partial acquittal. Rather, it requires the person to have been ''acquitted of all charges based on the same conduct or arising from the same criminal episode following a trial and a verdict of not guilty.'' 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4).
To implement Act 83, the Court has adopted Rules 490.2 and 790.2 and amended Rules 320, 490, 790, and 791 to accommodate the new rules. Rule 490.2 provides for expungement of a summary charge after acquittal, while Rule 790.2 provides for expungement in a court case after a complete acquittal. Together, Rules 490.2 and 790.2 provide the necessary procedures for expungement when ''a judicial determination has been made that a person is acquitted of an offense.'' 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4).
For a rule providing for the automatic expungement of an acquittal in a summary case, the Committee first examined whether the expungement should be ordered by the magisterial district judge who decided the matter or by a common pleas judge. As Act 83 is silent on the question, the Committee reviewed prior policy in this area and noted that (1) there is no rule-governed motions practice in Chapter 4 (Procedures in Summary Cases) of the Rules of Criminal Procedure; and (2) the magisterial district courts are not courts of record. Additionally, common pleas judges have greater familiarity and experience with processing expungements—currently, all but truancy expungements are handled at the court of common pleas. Act 83 also requires that the Commonwealth be given an opportunity to object and that the court, upon the filing of an objection, conduct a hearing. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(4)(ii)—(a)(4)(iii). The closer proximity of district attorneys, courts of common pleas, and clerks of courts would increase the efficiency of this process. Consequently, the Committee concluded that expungements of summary acquittals should be entrusted to judges of the courts of common pleas. One exception is expungements of summary offenses in Philadelphia Municipal Court. Where an individual is acquitted of a summary offense in Municipal Court, the subsequent expungement would be processed by the Municipal Court as provided for by the new rule.
To implement the above, subdivision (a)(1) of Rule 490.2 requires the issuing authority to promptly ''notify either the clerk of courts of the judicial district in which the charges were disposed or, if the charges were disposed of in the Philadelphia Municipal Court, the clerk of Municipal Court'' of the acquittal. The clerk of courts or the clerk of Municipal Court then has ten days to provide notice to the defendant, defense counsel, if any, and the attorney for the Commonwealth pursuant to subdivision (a)(2). The required contents of that notice are enumerated in subdivision (a)(4). Subdivision (b)(1) of the new rule then provides the Commonwealth with 60 days to file an objection in the court of common pleas or in Philadelphia Municipal Court, whichever applies. Upon receipt of the Commonwealth's response, or no later than fourteen days after the 60 days has expired, the court shall either grant the expungement or schedule a hearing pursuant to subdivision (b)(2). If the Commonwealth does not object, the court must grant the expungement, and the order for expungement must contain the information enumerated in subdivision (c)(1). If the judge denies the expungement, subdivision (b)(5) requires the judge to enter an order stating the reasons for the denial. In either case, the judge shall issue the order granting or denying expungement in writing pursuant to subdivision (b)(6). Subdivision (c)(2) then directs the clerk of courts to serve a copy of the order on ''each criminal justice agency identified in the court's order and to all other entities required to be notified by statute.''
Rule 790.2 closely mirrors Rule 490.2 and implements procedures for the automatic expungement of criminal history record information when an individual is acquitted in a court case. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 103 (Definitions) (''Court Case is a case in which one or more of the offenses charged is a misdemeanor, felony, or murder of the first, second, or third degree.''). However, unlike Rule 490.2, the judge who presided over the acquittal is not required to provide notice to the clerk of courts of the acquittal as the clerk enters the acquittal on the docket as a matter of course, making notification unnecessary. Like Rule 490.2, if the acquittal occurs in Philadelphia Municipal Court, the expungement would be processed by the Municipal Court. In all other respects, Rule 790.2 complements Rule 490.2.
The addition of Rules 490.2 and 790.2 to the Rules of Criminal Procedure require corollary amendments to Rules 490 and 790. Rule 490 (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Summary Cases; Expungement Order) and Rule 790 (Procedure for Obtaining Expungement in Court Cases; Expungement Order) provide for the filing of a petition for expungement. The procedures outlined in those rules are not applicable where there has been a complete acquittal. Thus, subdivision (a)(1) of Rule 490 has been amended to except from that rule all expungements that fall within the ambit of Rule 490.2, and Rule 790.2 has been amended to except from that rule all expungements that fall within the ambit of Rule 790.2. Additionally, subdivision (c)(2) of both Rule 490 and Rule 790 have been amended to require the clerk of courts to serve a copy of the order ''to all other entities required to be notified by statute.'' The Comments to those rules have been amended to explain:
Subdivision (c)(2) requires the clerk of courts to serve each criminal justice agency identified in the court's order as well as all other entities required to be notified by statute. See, e.g., 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a)(3) (requiring the expungement of all administrative records of the Department of Transportation relating to a conviction pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308 when that conviction is ordered to be expunged).The Comments to Rule 490 and Rule 790 have also been amended to provide references to all other expungement rules.
Finally, in light of the amendment of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1, Rule 791 (Procedure for Obtaining Order for Limited Access in Court Cases; Order for Limited Access) has been amended to reflect the change in financial obligations that must be satisfied prior to a limited access order being granted by the court. As amended, § 9122.1 prohibits a court from entering an order ''unless the person who filed the petition, upon payment of all court-ordered restitution, also paid the fee previously authorized to carry out the limited access and clean slate limited access provisions.'' 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1(a). The requirement that a defendant complete ''each court-ordered financial obligation of the sentence'' was deleted from § 9122.1(a) by Act 83. Thus, pursuant to the amendment of § 9122.1(a), a defendant needs to pay restitution and the fee imposed to cover the costs of the limited access and clean slate provisions, but not any other court-ordered financial obligations of the sentence, such as a fine or court costs, prior to any petition for limited access being granted. These changes are reflected in the amendments to subdivisions (a)(2)(viii) and (c)(1)(viii) of Rule 791.
Two final amendments have been adopted to create uniformity among the expungement rules: subdivision (c)(2) of Rule 791 has been amended to require the clerk to serve a copy of the order ''to all other entities required to be notified by statute''; and the title of Rule 320 has been amended from ''Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program'' to ''Procedure for Expungement Upon Successful Completion of ARD Program.''
The Committee published this proposal for comment. See 51 Pa.B. 5587 (September 4, 2021). Several commenters asked that the notice provisions of Rules 490.2 and 790.2 be amended to protect immigrant defendants ''who may need access to records of acquittals in the future for non-criminal matters.'' According to these commenters, immigrant defendants applying for permanent residence, naturalization, or asylum may be required to provide proof of any criminal dispositions. To ensure immigrant defendants are provided the necessary proof, these commenters requested that a notice of expungement advising the defendant to get a certified copy of the case disposition as soon as possible for future immigration proceedings be sent to the defendant, defense counsel, and the attorney for the Commonwealth.
The Committee determined that this concern would best be addressed by requiring documentation of an acquittal to be provided to the acquitted defendant at the time of the acquittal rather than at the time of expungement. While requiring documentation to be provided at the time of an acquittal was beyond the scope of this proposal, such a requirement may be the subject of future rulemaking.
Another commenter requested that subdivision (a)(1) of Rule 490.2 provide a more specific timeframe within which an issuing authority must notify the clerk of courts or the clerk of Municipal Court. As published, subdivision (a)(1) of Rule 490.2 would require ''the issuing authority [to] promptly . . . notify either the clerk of courts . . . or . . . the clerk of Municipal Court.'' The commenter noted that all other agencies are required to act within a specified time. In response, the Committee revised subdivision (a)(1) of Rule 490.2 to require the notice to be given ''promptly, but no later than 20 days after acquittal[.]'' The Committee believed that 20 days provided adequate time for the issuing authority to provide the required notice without introducing unnecessary delay.
The following commentary has been removed from Rule 490:
NOTE: Adopted September 22, 2010 effective in 90 days; amended November 1, 2016, effective November 14, 2016 amended March 1, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the September 22, 2010 promulgation of new Rule 490 providing the procedures for expungements in summary cases published with the Court's Order at 40 Pa.B. 5737 (October 9, 2010).
Final Report explaining the November 9, 2016 amendment regarding the stay of expungement when the Commonwealth has consented and petition and order forms published for comment at 46 Pa.B. 7439 (November 26, 2016).
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2019 amendment regarding expungement of summary offenses when the defendant is under 18 years of age published with the Court's Order at 49 Pa.B. 1121 (March 16, 2019).
The following commentary has been removed from Rule 790:
NOTE: Adopted September 22, 2010 effective in 90 days; amended November 1, 2016, effective November 14, 2016.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the September 22, 2010 promulgation of new Rule 790 providing the procedures for expungements in court cases published with the Court's Order at 40 Pa.B. 5737 (October 9, 2010).
Final Report explaining the November 9, 2016 amendment regarding the stay of expungement when the Commonwealth has consented and petition and order forms published with the Court's Order at 46 Pa.B. 7439 (November 26, 2016).
The following commentary has been removed from Rule 791:
NOTE: Adopted November 1, 2016, effective November 14, 2016.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining new Rule 791 providing the procedures for orders for limited access in court cases published with the Court's Order at 46 Pa.B. 7439 (November 26, 2016).
These new rules and amendments become effective April 1, 2024.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-842. Filed for public inspection June 30, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]
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