Pennsylvania

“A minor conviction from years ago shouldn't prevent someone from getting a job or renting an apartment – especially if that person has received a pardon. And when someone gets a second chance, that should be a real opportunity to start over and succeed.”

- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

In 2018, Pennsylvania led the nation with bold, bipartisan policy. By passing the nation’s first automated expungement law, now widely known as a Clean Slate law, the Keystone state kicked off a reentry trend that has since swept the nation. At the time, JAN leadership was right there, along side elected policymakers in Harrisburg to craft what would soon become a blueprint for extending true second chances to returning citizens.

Since then, JAN has continued to work with both returning and new policymakers in the state to repeatedly expand and fine-tune the country’s first ever Clean Slate late.

Most recently, On June 11, 2024, JAN executive director Jenna Bottler joined Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, leading Keystone State policy makers, local advocates, and members of the state's business community to celebrate the effective date of Clean Slate 3.0, which extends eligibility for automated expungement to people with low-level, non-violent drug felonies.

“No matter the debate and discord and other issues – these leaders were always willing to put aside their differences and work together on evidence-based, data driven criminal justice policy. Policy that is proven to make the citizens of this Commonwealth safer every single day, policies that are proven to restore families and communities and individuals and hope in this state, policies that are proven to empower individuals reach new heights of economic prosperity and give employers access to a robust workforce right here in Pennsylvania.”

- Jenna Bottler, Justice Action Network