If you're not eligible to have your record expunged in Pennsylvania, in terms of what will be best moving forward, you'd have to determine why you're not eligible. Or you're not eligible because, for example, it's a summary offense that you were convicted or pleaded guilty to and you're required to wait the five years before you become eligible. If you're at the four-year mark, generally speaking, you'd be better waiting until the five years have passed to seek an expungement.
it's a misdemeanor or a felony, then you can only get a misdemeanor or a felony expunged in Pennsylvania if you're 70 years of age and other conditions are met or if you're deceased and other conditions are met because of those strict eligibility requirements, you may have to take other steps. With a felony, for example, it may be necessary to seek a pardon with respect to a misdemeanor, as long as you're otherwise eligible, for example, if it's a misdemeanor that is eligible or most misdemeanors are eligible for a record sealing and 10 years have passed with you remaining arrest and prosecution free, you may be best seeking a record sealing or relief under a limited access.
There are options that a pardon is a fundamental step to address a conviction. It would restore a person's rights as if they were never convicted, unlike the expungement process, for example, which is a four to six-month process generally. The pardon process, it is more involved, it can take two to three years but sometimes that is a step that a person needs to take. A record sealing, it's similar in some respects to an expungement, the ultimate relief would be different. Having an experienced Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorney is going to help you best understand what options may be moving forward, they should be involved in determining what's best.
