Criminal Record Expungement in California: Clear Your Past, Secure Your Future

A criminal record can follow you for life, affecting employment opportunities, housing applications, professional licenses, and personal relationships. Fortunately, California law provides several pathways to clear your criminal record through expungement, record sealing, and other relief options. As experienced expungement attorneys serving Los Angeles and Southern California, we help clients remove the barriers that criminal records create.

Understanding California Record Relief Options

Penal Code 1203.4 Expungement

PC 1203.4 expungement is the most common form of California record relief:

Eligibility Requirements:

• Successful completion of probation
• No current charges pending
• No prison sentence served (county jail okay)
• Probation not revoked for new offense

Benefits of Expungement:

• Withdrawal of guilty plea or verdict
• Dismissal of case entered
• Legal right to deny conviction in most situations
• Improved employment prospects

Limitations:

• Record still visible to law enforcement
• Cannot possess firearms if prohibited
• Prior conviction counts for sentencing enhancements
• Some professional licenses still affected

Penal Code 1203.4a Expungement

PC 1203.4a provides relief for cases without formal probation:

Misdemeanor Cases:

• One year after conviction
• No probation granted
• All fines and restitution paid
• No subsequent convictions

Infraction Cases:

• Immediate eligibility after payment
• Traffic violations included
• No waiting period required
• Simple court process

Certificate of Rehabilitation and Governor’s Pardon

Certificate of Rehabilitation provides the highest level of relief:

Eligibility Requirements:

• California residency for specific period
• Rehabilitation demonstration
• No new convictions during residency
• Automatic application for Governor’s Pardon

Benefits:

• Firearm rights restoration
• Professional license eligibility
• Complete civil rights restoration
• Evidence of rehabilitation

Record Sealing Under PC 851.8

Factual innocence record sealing for:

• Wrongful arrests
• Charges not filed
• Dismissed cases
• Acquittals at trial

Complete Record Destruction:

• Police arrest records
• Court files
• Prosecutor files
• Background check removal

Employment and Background Check Relief

Employment Discrimination Protection

California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits:

Conviction-Based Discrimination:

• Blanket criminal history exclusions
• Failure to consider nature and age of conviction
• Lack of individualized assessment
• Retaliation for exercising rights

Ban the Box Laws:

• Cannot ask about criminal history on initial application
• Must wait until conditional job offer
• Individualized assessment required
• Appeal process for adverse decisions

Professional License Restoration

Expungement benefits for professional licensing:

State Licensing Boards:

• Real estate licenses
• Contractor licenses
• Insurance licenses
• Healthcare provider licenses

Professional Considerations:

• Rehabilitation evidence
• Time since conviction
• Nature of offense
• Professional competency

Housing Application Improvements

Criminal record relief helps with:

Rental Applications:

• Reduced background check barriers
• Improved creditworthiness appearance
• Landlord discretion factors
• Fair housing law protections

Home Purchase Benefits:

• Mortgage approval improvements
• Professional advancement opportunities
• Neighborhood acceptance
• Property investment options

Specific Expungement Categories

DUI Expungement

DUI conviction expungement provides relief despite:

DMV Record Retention:

• Driving record remains unchanged
• DUI stays on DMV record for 10 years
• Insurance impacts continue
• License suspension history preserved

Criminal Record Benefits:

• Employment background check improvement
• Professional license application benefits
• Personal satisfaction and closure
• Future sentencing consideration reduction

Drug Crime Expungement

Drug conviction relief under various programs:

Proposition 47 Benefits:

• Felony drug possession reduced to misdemeanor
• Immediate expungement eligibility
• Retroactive application available
• Simplified court process

Deferred Entry of Judgment:

• Automatic dismissal upon completion
• Arrest record remains
• Expungement may still be beneficial
• Complete record clearing possible

Domestic Violence Expungement

Domestic violence conviction expungement:

Special Considerations:

• Firearm prohibition remains
• Professional license impacts continue
• Immigration consequences may persist
• Restraining order history unaffected

Benefits Still Available:

• Employment discrimination reduction
• Housing application improvements
• Personal record satisfaction
• Future court consideration

Theft and Property Crime Expungement

Property crime expungement helps with:

Employment Barriers:

• Retail and customer service jobs
• Financial industry positions
• Government employment
• Professional licensing

Proposition 47 Relief:

• Felony theft reduced to misdemeanor
• Shoplifting reclassification
• Bad check offense reductions
• Receiving stolen property modifications

Expungement Process and Timeline

Initial Eligibility Assessment

Expungement evaluation includes:

Record Review:

• Complete criminal history analysis
• Probation completion verification
• Outstanding obligation identification
• Multiple case coordination

Legal Research:

• Applicable statute determination
• Eligibility requirement confirmation
• Potential obstacle identification
• Strategy development

Petition Preparation and Filing

Expungement petition preparation involves:

Required Documentation:

• Certified court records
• Probation completion certificates
• Payment receipts for fines
• Supporting declarations

Court Filing Process:

• Proper jurisdiction determination
• Filing fee payment
• Service requirements
• Hearing date scheduling

Court Hearing and Opposition

Expungement hearings address:

Prosecution Opposition:

• Public safety concerns
• Victim impact considerations
• Incomplete restitution issues
• Probation violation history

Judicial Discretion Factors:

• Rehabilitation evidence
• Community ties demonstration
• Employment and education progress
• Character reference presentations

Post-Expungement Benefits

After expungement granted:

Immediate Effects:

• Court record updated
• Background check improvements
• Legal denial rights
• Personal satisfaction achievement

Long-term Benefits:

• Career advancement opportunities
• Professional development
• Educational opportunities
• Community participation

Early Termination of Probation

PC 1203.3 Early Termination

Early probation termination allows immediate expungement:

Eligibility Requirements:

• At least 50% of probation completed
• Compliance with all terms
• No new violations
• Best interests of justice

Benefits:

• Immediate expungement eligibility
• Reduced supervision period
• Freedom from probation restrictions
• Accelerated record relief

Motion Strategy

Early termination motions emphasize:

Rehabilitation Evidence:

• Employment stability
• Educational achievements
• Community service participation
• Treatment program completion

Compliance Documentation:

• Perfect probation record
• Timely payment history
• Program completion certificates
• Character references

Federal Record Relief

Federal Expungement Limitations

Federal convictions have limited relief options:

Presidential Pardon:

• Rare and difficult to obtain
• Requires significant rehabilitation
• Extensive application process
• Political considerations

First Step Act Benefits:

• Sentence reduction opportunities
• Earned time credit programs
• Recidivism reduction programs
• Limited expungement provisions

Immigration Consequences

Criminal record relief and immigration:

Conviction Consequences:

• Deportation risks
• Inadmissibility issues
• Naturalization barriers
• Travel restrictions

Expungement Benefits:

• Limited immigration relief
• State court benefits only
• Federal recognition varies
• Specialized counsel required

Record Clearing for Juvenile Cases

Automatic Juvenile Record Sealing

WIC 781 provides automatic sealing when:

• Satisfactory probation completion
• Age of majority reached
• No adult convictions
• Court satisfaction with rehabilitation

Petition for Juvenile Record Sealing

Manual sealing petitions for:

• Unsuccessful probation cases
• Adult conviction cases
• Specific benefit demonstrations
• Court discretionary approval

Common Expungement Mistakes to Avoid

DIY Expungement Risks

Self-representation problems:

Procedural Errors:

• Incorrect forms or documentation
• Missed filing deadlines
• Improper service of process
• Inadequate hearing preparation

Eligibility Mistakes:

• Misunderstanding requirements
• Incomplete record research
• Multiple case complications
• Ineligible case filing

Professional Representation Benefits

Experienced expungement attorneys provide:

Comprehensive Analysis:

• Complete record review
• Multiple option evaluation
• Strategic planning
• Risk assessment

Professional Execution:

• Proper documentation preparation
• Court procedure compliance
• Hearing advocacy
• Follow-up services

Our Expungement Services

Complete Record Analysis

We provide comprehensive record review including:

Multi-Jurisdiction Search:

• California statewide records
• Federal conviction research
• Out-of-state record identification
• Arrest record discovery

Eligibility Assessment:

• All available relief options
• Timeline development
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Success probability evaluation

Full-Service Representation

Our expungement attorneys handle:

Document Preparation:

• Petition drafting and filing
• Supporting evidence compilation
• Court appearance scheduling
• Opposition response preparation

Court Representation:

• Hearing advocacy
• Legal argument presentation
• Evidence presentation
• Settlement negotiation

Ongoing Support

Post-expungement services:

Verification Assistance:

• Background check monitoring
• Record correction services
• Employment assistance
• Professional licensing support

Free Expungement Consultation

Don’t let a criminal record limit your future opportunities. Our experienced record clearing attorneys can evaluate your case and explain all available options for criminal record relief.

We offer:

No-Cost Case Evaluation:

• Complete eligibility assessment
• Multiple option analysis
• Timeline and cost explanation
• Success probability evaluation

Affordable Payment Plans:

• Flexible payment options
• Transparent fee structure
• No hidden costs
• Payment plan availability

Proven Track Record:

• Thousands of successful expungements
• High success rate
• Experienced representation
• Client satisfaction guarantee

Call today for your free expungement consultation and take the first step toward clearing your criminal record.

Your past doesn’t have to define your future. Contact experienced expungement attorneys who know how to navigate California’s record relief laws and help you move forward with a clean slate.