Rule 490.1 – Procedure for Obtaining Expungement of Truancy Cases; Expungement Order

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Pennsylvania

(A) PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT

(1) An individual who satisfies the requirements of 24 P.S. § 13-1333.3(h) for expungement of a summary truancy case may request expungement by filing a petition with the issuing authority by whom the charges were disposed.
(2) The petition shall set forth:

(a) the petitioner’s name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
(b) the name and address of the issuing authority who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
(c) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
(d) the magisterial district court number;
(e) the docket number;
(f) the school from which the petitioner had been found to be truant;
(g) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, and the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
(h) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
(i) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
(j) that the petitioner has satisfied the requirements of 24 P.S. § 13-1333.3(h) for expungement; and
(k) 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) A copy of the petitioner’s high school diploma, a Commonwealth secondary school diploma or another department of education-approved equivalent, or documentation that the petitioner is subject to an exception to compulsory attendance under 24 P.S. § 13-1330 shall be attached to the petition.
(4) A copy of the petition shall be served on the affiant and the attorney for the Commonwealth and the school from which the petitioner had been found to be truant concurrently with filing.
(B) OBJECTIONS; HEARING

(1) Within 30 days after service of the petition, the school, the affiant, or the attorney for the Commonwealth shall file a consent or objection to the petition or take no action. The school’s, affiant’s, or attorney for the Commonwealth’s consent or objection shall be filed with the issuing authority, and copies shall be served on the petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner if unrepresented.
(2) Upon receipt of the school, the affiant, or the attorney for the Commonwealth’s response, or no later than 14 days after the expiration of the 30-day period in paragraph (B)(1), the issuing authority shall grant or deny the petition or shall schedule a hearing.
(3) At the hearing, if any, the petitioner, the affiant and the attorney for the Commonwealth and the school from which the petitioner had been found to be truant shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the issuing authority promptly shall enter an order granting or denying the petition.
(4) If the issuing authority grants the petition for expungement, the issuing authority shall enter an order directing expungement.

(a) The order shall contain the information required in paragraph (C).
(b) Except when the school, the affiant, or the attorney for the Commonwealth has filed a consent to the petition pursuant to paragraph (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 issuing authority denies the petition for expungement, the issuing authority shall enter an order denying the petition and stating the reasons for the denial.
(6) The issuing authority shall issue the order granting or denying the petition in writing, with copies to the school, the affiant, or the attorney for the Commonwealth, and shall make the order a part of the docket.
(C) ORDER

(1) Every order for expungement shall include:

(a) the petitioner’s name and any aliases that the petitioner has used, address, date of birth, and social security number;
(b) the name and address of the issuing authority who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
(c) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation, if available;
(d) the magisterial district court number;
(e) the docket number;
(f) the school from which the petitioner had been found to be truant;
(g) the date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;
(h) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be expunged;
(i) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
(j) a statement that the petitioner has satisfied the requirements of 24 P.S. § 13-1333.3(h) for expungement; and
(k) 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 issuing authority shall serve a certified copy of the order to the school from which the petitioner had been found to be truant, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and to each criminal justice agency identified in the order.

234 Pa. Code § 490.1

Adopted by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 49, No. 2. January 12, 2019, effective 1/12/2019
Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 49, No. 11. March 16, 2019, effective 3/16/2019