Expunging a Summary Offense

When a person is charged with a crime, many times, an attorney will able to negotiate the charges down to a lower offense. Negotiating to lower charges is a strategy employed in many courtrooms, especially if the evidence is stacked strongly against a defendant. Sometimes, the option of accepting a lower offense is favorable to taking a gamble on strongly opposing evidence in the courtroom. In Pennsylvania, one strategy is to negotiate with the prosecutor to assign the defendant a summary offense.

What is a Summary Offense?

A summary offense is an offense level below a misdemeanor. In other states, they may be known as disorderly person's offenses or ordinance violations. While a majority of the time, summary offenses are not very serious acts, they still constitute as violations of the law, and convictions as well. Many job applications, however, are less likely to ask if a person has been convicted of a summary offense in the initial application stage.

Although a summary offense does count as a criminal conviction, they are typically treated much less seriously and have far less severe sentencing protocols than a misdemeanor or a felony. One of the other advantages to pleading to a summary offense is that a summary offense conviction is much more easily expunged when compared to a misdemeanor conviction.

How Can I Expunge a Summary Offense in Pennsylvania?

Summary offenses can be expunged much more quickly than a standard felony or misdemeanor offense. When a person wishes to expunge their summary offense, the following must apply to their situation:

  • At least 5 years have passed since their conviction
  • The defendant has completed their assigned sentencing
  • In addition to the repayment of fines, all associated court costs have been paid
  • The defendant is not currently facing any additional charges

Pennsylvania Expungement Attorney

When a person wishes to file for an expungement of a summary offense, they may find themselves in a confusing and difficult situation. filing for an expungement is a somewhat lengthy process that can be daunting for an individual that is unfamiliar with the court system. Although a defendant is more than capable of attempting to file on their own, they may not receive adequate guidance on the process from the court's employees. This can lead to frustration, and if filing is done incorrectly, delays. A person may have to start from the beginning if any errors are found.

An attorney conducting the filing for a person may be much more helpful. an attorney will already be familiar with court processes and can file the expungement paperwork without error, as well as monitor its status with the court to ensure the motion moves quickly. If you or a loved one is seeking an expungement in Pennsylvania, contact our Criminal Law Team today.

Contact Us Today!

The LLF Law Firm Team has decades of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the LLF Law Firm today! Our Criminal Defense Team will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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