What is an Order for Limited Access?

Sealing a Criminal Record – Order for Limited Access

In Pennsylvania, an Order for Limited Access functions similarly to what many other states refer to as criminal “record sealing”. While the conviction record still exists, it becomes inaccessible to the general public, meaning it should not show up in most criminal background checks.

Under Section 9121(b)(3) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, a court or the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts is prohibited from sharing sealed criminal records with individuals, noncriminal justice agencies, or websites. This law helps protect your privacy by limiting who can access your criminal history once the record is sealed.  The records can be viewed by law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges.

It’s important to understand that sealing a criminal record is not the same as an expungement. With an Order for Limited Access, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges can still access your record. This means that if you’re arrested again in the future, the sealed conviction can be considered and potentially used against you. Additionally, having a sealed record may disqualify you from first-time offender programs, such as ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition).

Still, an Order for Limited Access is a valuable tool. While it doesn’t erase your criminal record, it makes it invisible to employers, landlords, and others conducting background checks—offering a significant step toward a fresh start.

Under Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law, many minor summary offenses and low-level misdemeanor convictions are automatically sealed after a set period of time, but that period of time is often 10 years. For more serious misdemeanors, individuals must file a petition with the court to obtain an Order for Limited Access.

Find Out If You’re Eligible

If you have additional questions or are interested in representation, please 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.