Expunging and Sealing Criminal Records and Background Checks in Pennsylvania

Joseph Lesniak | Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC.

Joseph Lesniak earned his Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Villanova University in 2000. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the Villanova University School of Law in 2003. After law school, Mr. Lesniak served in the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office for over nine years serving a majority of that time in the Special Victims Domestic Violence Division prosecuting hundreds of sexual assaults, child abuse, and domestic violence cases. While in that division he served as the Chief and lead prosecutor of the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC), under a grant from the U.S Department of Justice. The Taskforce investigated and prosecuted internet exploitation and child pornography cases. Mr. Lesniak helped to create and teach the policies and techniques utilized across the Commonwealth which has led to many successful prosecutions of child exploiters both state and federally.

While in the District Attorney’s Office Mr. Lesniak was responsible for the creation and presentation of many community outreach programs on important topics such as: Protection From Abuse Orders, Internet Safety, Prosecuting Kidnapping, and Computer-Based CRIMES, Bullying, Cyber-Bulling, School Safety, and Custody Issues. He has presented both locally and nationally for such organizations as the National District Attorney’s Association, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse.

Mr. Lesniak also served as the Nether Providence Township Solicitor for over two years. In that position, he drafted numerous ordinances, represented the township on several complex zoning issues, and developed sound policies. He was integral in drafting a new comprehensive Civil Service Ordinance that brought the Township in compliance with state mandates while ensuring fairness in the process of selecting competent police officers.

Mr. Lesniak is an adjunct professor of Political Science at the Pennsylvania State University, served as the chairman of the Delaware County Bar Association. He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Media Theatre.

Currently, he is the principal at the Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC located in Media, Pennsylvania. The firm concentrated in the areas of criminal law and municipal law.

Michael R. Galantino | National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators

Michael R. Galantino is the Executive Director of the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators, which provides support and training to state and local prosecutors throughout the United States. He is also an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Galantino previously served for thirty years in the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania including twenty-one years as Deputy District Attorney and Chief of the Special Victims / Domestic Violence Division. He has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from West Chester University and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law.

He began his career in the District Attorney’s Office in 1989 and prosecuted a variety of cases over the next nine years. In 1998, Mr. Galantino was appointed Chief of the newly created Special Victims’ Unit to specialize in cases involving child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and Internet crimes against children. He prosecuted thousands of cases in his career, including more than 140 jury trials to verdict. He has taught at the national, state and local levels on issues including evidence, criminal law, search & seizure, child abuse, computer-facilitated sexual assault, ethics and courtroom procedures.

I. Introduction and Presenter’s background | 1:00 pm – 1:05 pm
II. Review of expungement law in Pennsylvania (Title 18 PaCC Section 9122) | 1:05 pm -1:15 pm
III. Review of the expungement/ Limited access expungement petition and order | 1:15 pm – 1:25 pm
IV. What can be expunged or limited access expunged | 1:25 pm – 1:45 pm
V. Partial Expungements | 1:45 pm – 1:55 pm
VI. ARD Expungements |1:55 pm – 2:00 pm

Break | 2:00 pm – 2:10 pm

VII. ARD Expungements | 2:10 pm – 2:15 pm
VIII. Caselaw regarding expungements | 2:15 pm – 2:35 pm
IX. Litigating Expungements | 2:35 pm – 2:45 pm
X. What is a governors pardon and why is not an expungement | 2:45 pm – 3:10 pm