Get Ready, Get Set: Pennsylvania Prepares for Clean Slate Implementation

In 2018, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) signed the Clean Slate Act, making Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to enact automated clearing of criminal records by technology. By June 28, 2019, statewide automated clearing will be implemented for the first time, and hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians will face brighter futures as a result. At present, Community Legal Services (CLS) and its many partners across the state are working to ensure the fullest possible implementation of the law. This paper discusses the progress that has been made toward implementing clean slate policies in Pennsylvania.