Why do charges appear on a background search after I completed ARD?

Expungement After ARD Is NOT Automatic in Pennsylvania

Many people mistakenly believe that successful completion of ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) automatically leads to the expungement of criminal records. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

You Must File for Expungement After ARD Completion

Even after completing all ARD requirements—such as probation, classes, community service, and paying court fees—the charges are not dismissed or expunged automatically. To remove the case from your criminal record, you must file a formal expungement petition with the Clerk of Courts in the county where the charges were filed.

In most Pennsylvania counties, the courts do not initiate this process for you. It’s your responsibility to either:

Until the expungement is completed, your criminal record—including arrest and court information—remains accessible in public and government databases, potentially affecting background checks for jobs, housing, or professional licenses.

It’s Not Too Late to File for ARD Expungement

The good news? Even if your ARD program ended years ago, you can still file for expungement. There is no deadline to start the process after successful ARD completion. However, the sooner you act, the sooner you can remove the arrest and court records from public access.

Trusted Expungement Lawyers in State College

At JD Law, our experienced expungement attorneys have helped clients across Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties successfully clear their records following ARD.

For a free case review, contact JD Law by email or leave a message at (814) 689-9139. Email is the preferred method of communication, as phone calls are directed to voicemail due to the high volume of spam and unsolicited calls.