In Re: Order Amending Rules 490 and 490.1 of the Pa Rules of Criminal Procedure

RULE 490. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING EXPUNGEMENT IN SUMMARY CASES;
EXPUNGEMENT ORDER.

(A) PETITION FOR EXPUNGEMENT

(1) Except as provided in Rule 320, 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) 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 date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if
available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;

(g) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be
expunged;

(h) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or
restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;

(i) the reason(s) for expungement; and

(j) 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) 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 (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) The order shall contain the information required in paragraph (C).

(b) Except when 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 judge denies the petition for expungement, the judge shall enter an
order denying the petition and stating the reasons for the denial.

(C) ORDER

(1) Every order for expungement shall include:

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 (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 date on the citation or complaint, or the date of arrest, and, if
available, the criminal justice agency that made the arrest;

(g) the specific charges, as they appear on the charging document, to be
expunged;

(h) the disposition and, if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or
restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;

(i) the reason(s) for expungement; and

(j) 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.

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

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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 Rule 790 for court case expungement
procedures.

This rule sets forth the only information that is to be
included in every expungement petition and order.

Paragraph (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 (A)(2)(i) and
(C)(1)(i) 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.

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 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
[.] 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 48 Pa.B. (
, 2018).

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RULE 490.1. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING EXPUNGEMENT OF TRUANCY
CASES; EXPUNGEMENT ORDER.

(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.

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 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.

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 (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.

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COMMENT: This rule, adopted in 2018, provides the
procedures for requesting and ordering expungement in
summary truancy cases as provided in 24 P.S. §13-
1333.3(h). If the issuing authority finds the petitioner has
satisfied the statutory conditions, the issuing authority shall
grant the petition.

As provided by statute, expungement petitions in truancy
cases may be filed in a magisterial district court, a court of
common pleas, or the Philadelphia Municipal Court. See 24
P.S. §13-1333.2. The use of the term “issuing authority” in
this rule is intended to encompass all of these courts.

Although magisterial district courts are not courts of record,
provisions requiring certain occurrences, such as the entry of
the expungement order, to be made “on the record” may be
accomplished in the magisterial district court by
documentation of these occurrences in the case record and
the case docket. See Rule 135.

Paragraph (A)(4) provides for service of the petition upon the
affiant or the attorney for the Commonwealth and the school
from which the petitioner had been found to be truant. This
is to provide an opportunity to challenge the petition and the
facts supporting the petition.

See Rule 490 for the procedures for expungement of
summary cases other than truancy, including those cases
in which a summary case has resulted in the filing of a
delinquency or dependency petition in juvenile court as
a result of a failure to comply with the summary case
sentence. See also Rule 320 for the procedures for
expungement following the successful completion of an ARD
program in a summary case and Rule 790 for court case
expungement procedures.

This rule sets forth the only information that is to be
included in every expungement petition and order.

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.

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 “Petition,” as used in this rule, is a “motion” for purposes of
Rules 575, 576, and 577. The term “petition” is used in
recognition that motion practice usually is not conducted in
magisterial district courts and that the expungement
procedure under this rule is an exception to this general
concept.

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.

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 December 20, 2018, effective April 1, 2018
[.] ; Comment revised March 1, 2019, effective July 1,
2019.

* * * * * *
COMMITTEE EXPLANATORY REPORTS:

Final Report explaining new Rule 490.1 regarding procedures for
expungement in truancy cases published with the Court’s Order at
49 Pa.B. 190 (January 12, 2019).

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2019 Comment revision
regarding procedures for expungement in non-truancy cases
published with the Court’s Order at 49 Pa.B. ( , 2019).

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