Get answers to common questions about the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Debt Relief Program, including information on payment and record sealing.
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Can I apply to have my justice debt paid?
No. We do not currently have a self-apply pathway for the program.
I have justice debt. Why was I not selected for the program?
Because funding is limited, this program is only able to pay some of the justice debt owed by Philadelphians. Eligibility is determined based on income, offenses and grades, Philadelphia residency, and incarceration status.
The City developed guidelines for the program in collaboration with a stakeholder working group.
My debt was paid. How did you get my information?
The City identifies eligible case records through partnerships with legal services organizations, Office of Public Safety programs, and court data analysis. Juveniles are currently referred by Juvenile Probation and the Defender Association.
How do I know if my justice debt has been paid?
To begin, find your cases on the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania portal.
When you find your docket, scroll to the final page. Underneath the “Case Financial Information” heading, it may say a “last payment date” on the left-hand side. If you do not see a “last payment date”, the City has not made a payment.
If your “last payment date” listed is April 14, 2025 or earlier, check for a balance in these categories:
If you previously owed money in those categories, have not submitted any payments, and see that the debt is at $0.00, your debt was likely paid through this program. However, if you don’t see those categories listed, it’s likely that you didn’t owe this type of debt and the City has not made a payment for this case.
If your “last payment date” listed is after April 14, 2025, check the “grand total” at the very bottom of the page. If you previously owed money, have not submitted any recent payments, and see that the “grand total” has a balance of $0.00, your debt was likely paid through this program.
If you have more than one case, it’s important to look at each one to see if there was a payment. The City may make a payment on one of your cases, but not all.
Why do I have an outstanding balance after the City paid my debt?
For some cases when the program first started, the City may not have cleared the entire debt on the record. You may still have outstanding fines and fees owed to the court. Payments made from the program after April 14, 2025 will have their entire case balance paid. Either way, the City’s payment will remove the debt that’s standing in the way of record clearing. This includes debt in the following categories:
To check whether you still have an outstanding fines, costs, or fees balance, call the First Judicial District’s Office of Court Compliance at (215) 683-7999 or email them at OCC@courts.phila.gov.
Why can’t I find my case record online?
Some payments the City makes will result in a record being automatically sealed. If you search for your case on the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania portal and don’t find a case record that you know you had, it may have been automatically sealed.
How can I confirm that my record was automatically sealed after the City paid my debt?
If you want proof or are unsure about which record(s) you used to have, you can go in person to the Office of Records at Criminal Justice Center on the third floor of 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. You’ll need to present your ID and ask staff for a copy of the “secured court summary.” This is a copy of your record that’s not publicly available.
You may be sent to the basement to pay a small fee to access this secure copy. Compare this document to your public record to find out if one of your cases was automatically sealed.
My debt was paid and my record should have been automatically sealed, but it has not been. Who can I contact?
Send an email to justice-debt-relief@phila.gov with the subject line “Automatic sealing help.” City staff will attempt to help resolve the issue directly or by connecting you to a free attorney.
My debt was paid, but now I need to petition for the sealing of my record. Who can I contact?
Send an email to justice-debt-relief@phila.gov with the subject line “Petition help.” City staff will attempt to connect you to a free attorney who may be able to file a petition to seal your record.
My debt was paid and now my record is sealed. What do I do next?
Congratulations, your record was sealed! Sealing may help you access jobs, housing and education because your sealed records will no longer appear on background checks. You don’t have to tell employers, landlords, or schools about a sealed record, and the record cannot be used against you by employers, landlords, or schools.
There are some exceptions to this rule. If a federal law requires that an employer consider your criminal record, that employer can access sealed records. This applies to a small number of employers.
Who can I contact for assistance clearing my criminal record, regardless of payment from this program?
If your debt was not paid by this program, visit PALawHELP.org for help with finding a lawyer.