New "Clean Slate" Law Helps Secure Housing
Pennsylvania recently began automatically sealing certain criminal records from public view. Act 56 of 2018, called the
Clean Slate Law, seeks to alleviate hardships that can come as a result of having a criminal record, which is often an impediment to finding housing and employment. While complete criminal records will still be accessible by law enforcement and court personnel, general access to criminal records will be limited if charges were dropped, if the individual was found not guilty, or if 10 years have passed since the entry of a summary or minor misdemeanor without a new conviction.
Once an individual’s record has been “wiped clean,” that person may respond to questions from employers and landlords as though the offense had never occurred. A person cannot be required to disclose the information, nor will it be searchable. If a background check on a potential tenant reveals a criminal history, keep in mind that the
guidance issued by HUD in 2016 is still valid. A criminal history is one factor among many to consider when evaluating
potential tenants but should not serve as an immediate disqualifier.
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