Alert
PARDON HEARINGS
At its October Public Hearings, the Board of Pardons heard 176 pardon applications (including 42 that were excused) and recommended 138 of them – a success rate of 78.4%. We are delighted to report that all 11 of PLSE’s clients received positive votes and are now being recommended for a pardon!
The total pardon cases heard by the BOP at a public hearing this year was 596 and 81.5% (486) of them were recommended to the Governor.
General
NOVEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER
Greetings from our new Executive Director, notes on why second chances are apolitical, record clearing clinic news, and details on how you can support our mission.
Pardons
Pardon Me
The new documentary short Pardon Me is now on the road with screenings around the state.
Empowering our communities
by expanding opportunity
What We Do
Mass incarceration has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians having criminal records that hurt them, their families and neighborhoods for generations. We all should want to help our neighbors get the second chances they have earned, and we can! PLSE works to uplift communities most affected by social justice inequities by providing assistance to neighborhood organizations and individuals who feel that their criminal record is blocking them from jobs, careers, education, credit, housing and other opportunities.
Expungement Help
Criminal records are permanent unless a judge erases, or “expunges,” them – but this happens almost every day! In 2019, PLSE obtained over 3000 Court Orders for its clients, with a success rate of over 98%! PLSE’s Criminal Records Expungement Project provides free legal services to low-income individuals with criminal charges in Philadelphia County only, and helps connect to resources that can help in other places.
Pardons Help
For people not yet 70 years old, the only way to get a conviction erased from your record is by a pardon from the Governor – and thanks to reforms championed by PLSE, YOU could have better than a 50-50 chance of getting one if you’ve turned your life around! PLSE’s Pardon Project provides free information, advice and representation to qualifying individuals, and is creating a network of “Pardon Hubs” throughout Philadelphia where you can get information and help. And on this website, you can watch videos from people who have gone through the process.
Education & Training
PLSE offers trainings for volunteers and workshops about criminal records, expungements and pardons, and related issues like employment rights, voting rights, housing and credit. These trainings can be requested for community organizations and service providers. While “social distancing” has postponed most of our community events, we are putting lots of our programs on this website.
Fair Employment
PLSE’s Fair Employment Opportunities Project provides advice and representation to people who have been denied jobs or promotions or otherwise been treated unfairly at work because of their criminal records. PLSE also teaches employers what their rights and duties are, on how to avoid liability, helps employees clear their criminal records, and conducts fair employment HR reviews.
ECONOMY LEAGUE ANALYSIS 2020
Pardons can contribute to economic development in
communities across the commonwealth
EXPUNGEMENT PROJECT
Get Help From PLSE Online!
Because of COVID-19, PLSE has temporarily suspended in-person intake clinics in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. But don’t worry: You can now start working towards getting a clean criminal record here on the PLSE website.
Questions about criminal records?
We’ve put together LOTS of information where you can find answers to most questions —
and if it’s not there, you can email us, in English or en español.
PARDON PROJECT
PLSE Video Library
Want to learn more about the pardon process, from people who have gone through it – including What is the Board of Pardons Looking For? Check out the PLSE pardon video library.
You can help, and WE NEED YOU!
Criminal records are a public health crisis: they affect individuals, families, and entire neighborhoods – and the solution is for everyone to get involved! There are many ways you can join PLSE in the fight to create a more equitable society for people who are doing their best – for themselves and their families – to put their past behind them and achieve their potentials.
STAY INFORMED
The need for criminal justice reform can be seen in the news almost every day. PLSE is making a big difference when it comes to criminal records. Don’t miss out on any important updates: Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter – a 5-minute read once each month.
DONATE
It only costs $350 to help someone expunge their criminal record, and just $500 to help them apply for a pardon — so almost everyone can help! We are supported by the United Way, the City of Philadelphia, and a growing list of supporters, but individual contributions from people make up a big chunk of our budget. And as word of our success grows, we will need to hire more paralegals to help get our clients and their petitions ready for Court. Your tax-deductible gift can make a BIG difference!
VOLUNTEER
We’ve found the best way to serve our clients is to be present where they live and work – and that means partnering with local community organizations (which we call Pardon Hubs). We are also connecting with clients online whom we can send your way. In just 45 minutes, we can train you, your staff and volunteers. Check out our Events page for the next training program.
ADVOCATE
People change. Records don’t. We need help spreading the word that people with old criminal records should not be discriminated against, and that the government should be acting FAR more quickly to give MANY more people the second chances they –and our economy! – deserve. Check out our Advocacy page to see how you can help!
INVITE PLSE TO SPEAK
Thanks to ZOOM, freeconferencecall.com and other technologies, it is now easier than ever to invite PLSE to join you, your community group or congregation, your co-workers or clients. We are particularly eager to connect with organizations that are working in low-income communities where so many of its members have been justice-involved and might need help clearing up their criminal records.
Contact Us
ADDRESS
230 S. Broad St., Suite 1102
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Please no walk-ins. Call to make an appointment.
PHONE
+1 (267) 519-5323
EMAIL
info@plsephilly.org (English)
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