HARRISBURG — A new Pennsylvania law gives people a way to ask judges to seal criminal records from public view if they’re not more serious than nonviolent misdemeanors.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bill Tuesday that applies to people who have been free of arrest or prosecution for 10 years. It applies to second- and third-degree misdemeanors, or such crimes as trespassing, vandalism and indecent assault.

It doesn’t expunge criminal records, but now people can obtain court orders to shield the records. The law takes effect in nine months.