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PA begins automated record sealing June 28: Clean Slate
Full implementation expected to take 1 year due to large number of cases now eligible
For Pennsylvanians with minor convictions and no further misdemeanor or felony convictions, there's good news: Automated sealing of certain criminal records begins Friday, June 28 as part of the Clean Slate law. In addition to getting a second chance and improved job and housing opportunities, automated sealing means that attorney fees and expungement filing fees will no longer impede eligible individuals who are seeking a fresh start.
With an estimated 30 million records now eligible for automated sealing, the state has allotted a year to complete all of the sealings covered under the law. Deborah Steeves, LASP Staff Attorney based in West Chester, noted that cases that are newly eligible for automated sealing under Clean Slate are scheduled to be processed between June 28, 2019, and June 27, 2020.
Sharon Dietrich, Litigation Director and Managing Attorney of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), said, "The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and the Pennsylvania State Police are on target for successful implementation of automated sealing by the onset date." CLS was instrumental in advocating for and securing passage of the Clean Slate Act.
Erica Briant, LASP Regional Expungement Attorney, explained that automated record-sealing will include many non-convictions, summary convictions after 10-20 years, and many nonviolent ungraded, second- or third-degree misdemeanors. For other cases, a petition must be filed with the court in order to seal records in Pennsylvania.
Because of the complexity of the laws on record sealing, expungements, and pardons, it is recommended that individuals seek help to determine "next steps" for clearing a record. More information about Steeves' workshops in July, August and September is included below: ChescoCleanSlateWorkshops See below for information about a Clean Slate CLE replay Thursday, July 18 in Doylestown: BucksBarCleanSlateCLE.
For more information
The PA Supreme Court answers Frequently Asked Questions: http://bit.ly/2X2mX7p
Bucks County | The Writs: http://bit.ly/2xcnqt3 (pages 18-20)
Chester County | New Matter:
http://bit.ly/2ZM2mG3
(pages 14-15)
Montgomery County | Sidebar:
http://bit.ly/2Yit5tu (pages 16-18)
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New research
'Securing Stability: Legal Aid's Lasting Impact'
CLEVELAND - "
Legal Aid's assistance allows individuals and families to secure stability in a wide variety of different areas years after a court case concludes," according to a new study, "Securing Stability: Legal Aid's Lasting Impact," released June 16.
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Community Legal Aid jointly commissioned The Center for Community Solutions (CCS) to survey former clients of the two nonprofits.
CCS surveyed more than 1,200 former clients across 13 counties in Northeast Ohio to find out what impact their civil legal aid experiences had on their lives, and the lives of their families, years after their cases closed.
http://bit.ly/2XoDmHr. A few highlights from the full report:
- Legal Aid's assistance has a long-term, lasting impact that allows individuals and families to secure stability. Former clients reported: (page 6)
- Relief at no longer facing their problem alone.
- Relief to know the final outcome of their legal issue.
- Ability to focus on other aspects of their life once their legal problem was resolved.
- "More than half of clients whose interaction with Legal Aid was more than a decade ago attributed changes in at least one stability area to civil legal assistance." (page 9)
- Former clients reported increased stability in one or more of the following: finance, family, health, housing, education and civic involvement. "Finding: Working with Legal Aid impacts a client's financial well-being for many years following a case, regardless of the type of legal problem the initial case addressed." (page 10)
- Improved stability was most often related to the original legal problem, but stability improvements also were reported in areas unrelated to the legal problem, most often in family and health stability. (page 9)
- "Thirteen percent of former Legal Aid clients reported an increase in health stability regardless of the legal problem they sought assistance to solve." (page 24)
The "Securing Stability" website, with links to the research summary, full report and more, is at
:
http://bit.ly/2Iwxe7x
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Cleveland Plain Dealer article:
http://bit.ly/2Y3TUl5
L
SC Opioid Task Force report
Legal Services Corporation's Opioid Task Force released its final report June 11:
http://bit.ly/OpioidReport_LSC. The report concludes: "...Because the epidemic touches people and families from all races, genders, income levels, education levels, and backgrounds, no one system can address all the causes. ... Nor can any single system provide all the support individuals seeking to succeed in recovery need.
"Many people face barriers to success that can be addressed only through legal action, which makes civil legal aid attorneys a critical part of the response to the opioid epidemic." (page 48 of full report)
Pottstown Mercury coverage of LASP
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(All photo IDs start from left.) Photo at upper left: Lowell, Kristen and Liam Ladd with Kristen's parents, Suzanne and Bob Wetzel. Kristen has co-chaired the Trial Run since ~2014. Lowell and 2L Race Services provide race logistics, and Liam, age 9, won the 19-and-under division of this year's Trial Run 5K! Upper right: Bianca Stern, John Farrell, Christina Drzal, Sha'xaria Gordon, Olivia Gordon, Sherri Peace-Gordon, Alanna Peace-Bullock and Michelle R. Terry. Lower left: Marion Hoffman Fraley, Christina Drzal, Catherine Voit, Rachel Houseman, Brian Doyle and Shawn Boehringer. (Photo by Sara Planthaber.) Lower right: John McKenna, Brian Doyle and Kristen Wetzel Ladd.
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15th Annual Trial Run 5K raises more than $15,000!
DOWNINGTOWN - A giant THANKS to all sponsors, runners, walkers and supporters for joining us on a sunsplashed Struble Trail, Downingtown on June 15, and to the Chester County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee! This year's race raised $15,775 for free civil legal aid for low-income and vulnerable people. During its 15-year history, the Trial Run 5K has raised more than $249,000 for legal aid.
SPECIAL THANK YOU to Kristen Wetzel Ladd, Esq., of Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees for her work on behalf of this and other Trial Run 5Ks since 2011 and as co-chair since ~2014. "Kristen has been a huge supporter of LASP and the Trial Run for many years," noted Brian Doyle, LASP Staff Attorney, Chesco Pro Bono Coordinator, and the other co-chair of the Chesco Bar Association's Trial Run Committee. "Kristen's devotion of her time, energy, and effort have made our race possible. We can't thank her enough for contributing her expertise and insight," Doyle said. He also thanked Lowell Ladd and 2L Race Services for the logistical support!
Tom Parlapiano won first place in the men's division with 16:59, and Mark Langan finished second at 18:00. Allison Hopkins won the women's division at 21:23 and Sara Planthaber, former LASP intern, was second at 23:59. The 48 runners and walkers were ages 4 -70, with eight competitors in the 19-and-under division and five participants in the 60-and-over division.
Full results are at
https://www.itsyourrace.com/results.aspx?id=631
100+ PHOTOS at LASP's Trial Run Flickr page:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEk6i55
THANKS to all sponsors!
EVENT SPONSOR: MacElree Harvey
GOLD SPONSORS: Fox Rothschild | Gawthrop, Greenwood, P.C. | John McKenna, Esq. | Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees
SILVER SPONSORS: Lamb McErlane PC | Steven Sugarman & Associates
BRONZE SPONSORS: Bailey & Ehrenberg
| Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP | Chester County Paralegal Association | First Resource Bank |
Morton & Kubacke Family Law, LLC |
Univest Bank and Trust Co. | Catherine Voit, Esq. | Wetzel Gagliardi Fetter & Lavin, LLC
FRIENDS OF LEGAL AID: Chester County Bar Association | Kevin Cronin, Esq. | Platt, DiGiorgio & DiFabio | WSFS
PATRONS OF LEGAL AID: KeyBank | Reger, Rizzo & Darnall, LLP
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Photo at upper left: Shawn Boehringer (at left), LASP Executive Director, with Jon Adams and Lauren Latzko of DJS Associates. Photo courtesy of the Montgomery Bar Association. Upper right: Nancy Paul (at right), Executive Director of the Montgomery Bar Association and LASP Board of Directors with Christine Walker of Haverford Trust Co., a Golf Classic sponsor. Lower left: Golfers on the green. Lower right photo (from left): Rochelle Hall and Najah Samuel of The TASA Group.
THANK YOU to the Montgomery Bar Association & Montgomery Bar Foundation!
2019 LEGAL AID GOLF CLASSIC
PLYMOUTH MEETING - A huge THANK YOU to the Montgomery Bar Association and Montgomery Bar Foundation, all sponsors, golfers and supporters for hosting a fabulous 2019 Legal Aid Golf Classic at the 1912 Club! The June 24 event featured morning sunshine and a hole-in-one by
Justin Schorr, President of Golf Classic sponsor DJS Associates. It's Schorr's second-ever hole and one, and the Legal Aid Golf Classic's first hole-in-one since ~2011 or ~2014! For 100+ photos, visit LASP's Flickr page at
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEvJEYn, and check out 80 additional photos on the Montgomery Bar Association's Flickr page:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEx2GUV.
PRESENTING SPONSORS: High Swartz LLP | LexisNexis | Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC
PREMIUM PLUS SPONSORS: Friedman Schuman, P.C. (Breakfast Sponsor) | Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, PC (Luncheon Sponsor) | Wisler Pearlstine, LLP (Beverage Cart Sponsor)
PREMIUM SPONSORS: Clare Printing | Elliott Greenleaf PC | The Haverford Trust Company | Legal Card Pay | Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP | Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. | USI Affinity / My Benefit Advisor
HOLE SQUATTER SPONSORS: D'Amore Consulting, LLC | DJS Associates, Inc. | Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer, LLP | Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin | The TASA Group | Webesco, LLC - Legal Technology Group
TEE / GREEN SPONSORS:
Alderfer Auction |
Chong Law Firm - Jimmy C. Chong, Esq. |
Dreslin & Company, Inc.|
Fleisher Forensics |
Fox Rothschild LLP |
Kate M. Harper, Esq. |
Kaplin Stewart |
Keystone Jury Consulting c/o Mark C. Schultz, Esq. |
McTighe, Weiss & O'Rourke, P.C. |
Montgomery County Paralegal Association |
Morris Wilson, P.C. |
Sal Nazzaro Mechanical Contractor |
Penn Community Bank |
Tim Seiders - Second Saturday Divorce Information Workshop for Women |
T. Mastrocola Construction |
Timoney Knox, LLP
| Walsh Pancio, LLC
CONTRIBUTOR:
Kathleen Arnold-Yerger
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| Highlights from the counties |
Bucks County
 Clean Slate CLE (PBI replay) at Bucks Bar Association
Thur., July 18
DOYLESTOWN - The Bucks County Bar Association will host a
Clean Slate CLE video replay on Thursday, July 18 from 9 -11 a.m. The replay will take place at Bucks Bar Association, 135 E. State St., Doylestown, PA 18901. Originally presented in March 2019 by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the CLE provides information on the new Clean Slate law which began implementation in December 2018 and begins automated sealing of certain criminal records on June 28, 2019. To register, please contact PBI directly at 1-800-932-4637 or visit: http://bit.ly/2F6olQ2.
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Opioid crisis expands grandparent role
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Chester County
Upcoming Expungement / Clean Slate Workshops in Exton
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| Click flyer above |
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EXTON - LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present three Expungement / Clean Slate Workshops in July, August and September to explain Pennsylvania's laws and then help attendees learn more about their specific situation. The three FREE events are co-sponsored with United Way of Chester County and PA CareerLink Chester County, and will be held at 479 Thomas Jones Way, Exton, PA 19341.
Registration link for each workshop:
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LASP presents Expungement Clinic in Phoenixville
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| PHOENIXVILLE - LASP partnered with the Phoenixville Area Senior Center and the office of PA Rep. Melissa Shusterman to present an Expungement Clinic Saturday, June 8 at the Senior Center. Pictured from left: Guy Marinari, LASP Staff Attorney; Ginger Murphy, Constituent Service Advisor to Rep. Melissa Shusterman; and Erica Briant, LASP Regional Expungement Attorney. Missing: Julie Gaudan, Executive Director of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center. |
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Delaware County
Delco seniors face barriers including affordable housing
& confusing tax system
MORTON -
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 7, Christina Drzal, LASP Staff Attorney, joined a panel of regional experts to discuss major issues facing senior citizens in Delaware County. Held at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit in Morton, the panel provided insights on ongoing senior legal issues to PA Sen. Tim Kearney, U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, PA Sen. Tom Killion, PA Rep. Mike Zabel, PA Rep. Leanne Krueger,
Kevin Madden of Delaware County Council; and
staffers from the office of PA Rep. Jennifer O'Mara.
Drzal, who supervises LASP's Regional Housing Unit, discussed some of the issues that Delaware County senior citizens face, including lack of affordable housing and a tax structure that can confuse seniors.
In terms of housing affordability, Drzal noted that
$791 is the minimum SSI payment for seniors, and LASP's Delaware County senior clients who are facing eviction receive a median monthly income of
$1,035. Meanwhile, in her 11 years with LASP, Drzal has observed housing costs at a minimum of $800-850 per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Delco.
The tax structure also affects senior citizens. "Seniors face difficulties in maintaining home ownership due to unaffordable tax repayment plans, fees and interest charged by their local Tax Claim Bureau," Drzal said."They also face challenges navigating the multiple entities collecting taxes."
In addition to Drzal's five-minute presentation, other panelists discussed how senior abuse, exploitation and theft go unreported for fear of retribution from caregivers, as well as issues of isolation, financial hardship and language and cultural barriers. Grandparents' rights, guardianship, efforts to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible, senior scams and phone spoofing also were presented by other panelists: Karen Buck, Executive Director, SeniorLAW Center; Denise Stewart and Theresa Butts of the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA); Katayoun Copeland, Delco District Attorney; Chelsey Price, Delco Senior Victims Services; Mary Walk, Delco Register of Wills; Terri Clark of SAGECare; and Robin Goldberg-Glen of Widener University Center for Social Work Education.
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Montgomery County
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Juliana Muhaj (at left), LASP / PLAN Martin Luther King, Jr. Intern; Krystal Kane, Esq., Blank Rome Pro Bono Coordinator; Sameen Oboudiyat, Pro Bono Intern; Michael E. Kelley, LASP Norristown Managing Attorney; Melissa Murawsky, Esq., Partner at Blank Rome; Jeremy Rist, Esq., Partner at Blank Rome; and Thomas Dunn, Pro Bono Intern.
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Birth Certificate Clinic, co-sponsored by LASP & Blank Rome, serves 75
NORRISTOWN - 75 people received help filing an application for a PA birth certificate at a free clinic on June 25. Blank Rome LLP and LASP presented the clinic at the George Washington Carver Community Center, Norristown. Birth certificates often are needed to receive medical assistance, housing and other public benefits, to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's or non-driver's license, for access to many public buildings, and for many other general identification purposes. Thank you to Blank Rome for the pro bono assistance and fee sponsorship.
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YOU make a difference! To support free civil legal aid for low-income and vulnerable people in Bucks, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery counties, please visit:
http://bit.ly/LegalAidHelps.
Your donation changes lives. Thank you!
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