How can I expunge a criminal record in California?
Full Question:
Answer:
Expungement is the process of legally destroying, obliterating or striking out records or information in files, computers and other depositories relating to criminal charges. The records cannot be accessed for general law enforcement or civil use. However, under certain exceptional situations, the expunged records can be searched, retrieved, and used, but this is occurs only in exceptional circumstances and normally requires a court order or statutory authorization.
Expungement can take many forms. The relief available will depend on the type of conviction (misdemeanor, felony, or "wobbler"), the type of sentence received (probation with or without jail time, state prison), the age of the offender (juvenile or adult), and whether a claim for factual innocence can be made out.
California criminal offenses are defined by the type of punishment that can be imposed. Misdemeanors are offenses that are punishable by a fine, and/or up to one year in county jail. Felonies are punishable by a fine, and by custody in state prison. Wobblers are cases that can be punished by either up to one year in county jail, or by imprisonment in state prison.
Under California law, your misdemeanor conviction can be expunged, as long as you successfully completed the terms of your probation. If you were not placed on probation, your conviction can be expunged one year after the date you plead guilty or no contest. Although successful completion of probation is a requirement, the law provides courts the discretion to expunge convictions where probation was violated. A petition for expungement may be made in the court which imposed the sentence. In a misdemeanor case, the petition is filed under 1203.4 if probation was successfully completed, or 1203.4a if no probation was ordered.
Please see the following CA statutes to determine applicability:
1203.4. (a) In any case in which a defendant has fulfilled the
conditions of probation for the entire period of probation, or has
been discharged prior to the termination of the period of probation,
or in any other case in which a court, in its discretion and the
interests of justice, determines that a defendant should be granted
the relief available under this section, the defendant shall, at any
time after the termination of the period of probation, if he or she
is not then serving a sentence for any offense, on probation for any
offense, or charged with the commission of any offense, be permitted
by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or plea of nolo
contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or, if he or she has been
convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the
verdict of guilty; and, in either case, the court shall thereupon
dismiss the accusations or information against the defendant and
except as noted below, he or she shall thereafter be released from
all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he
or she has been convicted, except as provided in Section 13555 of
the Vehicle Code. The probationer shall be informed, in his or her
probation papers, of this right and privilege and his or her right,
if any, to petition for a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon.
The probationer may make the application and change of plea in person
or by attorney, or by the probation officer authorized in writing.
However, in any subsequent prosecution of the defendant for any other
offense, the prior conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall
have the same effect as if probation had not been granted or the
accusation or information dismissed. The order shall state, and the
probationer shall be informed, that the order does not relieve him or
her of the obligation to disclose the conviction in response to any
direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for
public office, for licensure by any state or local agency, or for
contracting with the California State Lottery.
Dismissal of an accusation or information pursuant to this section
does not permit a person to own, possess, or have in his or her
custody or control any firearm or prevent his or her conviction under
Section 12021.
Dismissal of an accusation or information underlying a conviction
pursuant to this section does not permit a person prohibited from
holding public office as a result of that conviction to hold public
office.
This subdivision shall apply to all applications for relief under
this section which are filed on or after November 23, 1970.
(b) Subdivision (a) of this section does not apply to any
misdemeanor that is within the provisions of subdivision (b) of
Section 42001 of the Vehicle Code, to any violation of subdivision
(c) of Section 286, Section 288, subdivision (c) of Section 288a,
Section 288.5, or subdivision (j) of Section 289, any felony
conviction pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 261.5, or to any
infraction.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), subdivision (a) does
not apply to a person who receives a notice to appear or is otherwise
charged with a violation of an offense described in subdivisions (a)
to (e), inclusive, of Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code.
(2) If a defendant who was convicted of a violation listed in
paragraph (1) petitions the court, the court in its discretion and in
the interests of justice, may order the relief provided pursuant to
subdivision (a) to that defendant.
(d) A person who petitions for a change of plea or setting aside
of a verdict under this section may be required to reimburse the
court for the actual costs of services rendered, whether or not the
petition is granted and the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate
to be determined by the court not to exceed one hundred twenty
dollars ($120), and to reimburse the county for the actual costs of
services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the
records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the
county board of supervisors not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars
($120), and to reimburse any city for the actual costs of services
rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and the records are
sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council
not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120). Ability to make this
reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards
set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and
shall not be a prerequisite to a person's eligibility under this
section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in which the
petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue
hardship, all or any portion of the costs for services established
pursuant to this subdivision.
(e) Relief shall not be granted under this section unless the
prosecuting attorney has been given 15 days' notice of the petition
for relief. The probation officer shall notify the prosecuting
attorney when a petition is filed, pursuant to this section.
It shall be presumed that the prosecuting attorney has received
notice if proof of service is filed with the court.
(f) If, after receiving notice pursuant to subdivision (e), the
prosecuting attorney fails to appear and object to a petition for
dismissal, the prosecuting attorney may not move to set aside or
otherwise appeal the grant of that petition.
(g) Notwithstanding the above provisions or any other provision of
law, the Governor shall have the right to pardon a person convicted
of a violation of subdivision (c) of Section 286, Section 288,
subdivision (c) of Section 288a, Section 288.5, or subdivision (j) of
Section 289, if there are extraordinary circumstances.
1203.4a. (a) Every defendant convicted of a misdemeanor and not
granted probation shall, at any time after the lapse of one year from
the date of pronouncement of judgment, if he or she has fully
complied with and performed the sentence of the court, is not then
serving a sentence for any offense and is not under charge of
commission of any crime and has, since the pronouncement of judgment,
lived an honest and upright life and has conformed to and obeyed the
laws of the land, be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her
plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or
if he or she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court
shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and in either case the court
shall thereupon dismiss the accusatory pleading against the
defendant, who shall thereafter be released from all penalties and
disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been
convicted, except as provided in Section 12021.1 of this code or
Section 13555 of the Vehicle Code. The defendant shall be informed of
the provisions of this section, either orally or in writing, at the
time he or she is sentenced. The defendant may make an application
and change of plea in person or by attorney, or by the probation
officer authorized in writing; provided, that in any subsequent
prosecution of the defendant for any other offense, the prior
conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same effect
as if relief had not been granted pursuant to this section.
This subdivision applies to convictions which occurred before as
well as those occurring after, the effective date of this section.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any misdemeanor falling
within the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 42001 of the
Vehicle Code, or to any infraction.
(c) A person who petitions for a dismissal of a charge under this
section may be required to reimburse the county and the court for the
cost of services rendered at a rate to be determined by the county
board of supervisors for the county and by the court for the court,
not to exceed sixty dollars ($60), and to reimburse any city for the
cost of services rendered at a rate to be determined by the city
council not to exceed sixty dollars ($60). Ability to make this
reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards
set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and
shall not be a prerequisite to a person's eligibility under this
section. The court may order reimbursement in any case in which the
petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue
hardship, all or any portion of the cost for services established
pursuant to this subdivision.
(d) Any determination of amount made by a court under this section
shall be valid only if either (1) made under procedures adopted by
the Judicial Council or (2) approved by the Judicial Council.
203.45. (a) In a case in which a person was under the age of 18
years at the time of commission of a misdemeanor and is eligible for,
or has previously received, the relief provided by Section 1203.4 or
1203.4a, that person, in a proceeding under Section 1203.4 or
1203.4a, or a separate proceeding, may petition the court for an
order sealing the record of conviction and other official records in
the case, including records of arrests resulting in the criminal
proceeding and records relating to other offenses charged in the
accusatory pleading, whether defendant was acquitted or charges were
dismissed. If the court finds that the person was under the age of 18
at the time of the commission of the misdemeanor, and is eligible
for relief under Section 1203.4 or 1203.4a or has previously received
that relief, it may issue its order granting the relief prayed for.
Thereafter the conviction, arrest, or other proceeding shall be
deemed not to have occurred, and the petitioner may answer
accordingly any question relating to their occurrence.
(b) This section applies to convictions that occurred before, as
well as those that occur after, the effective date of this section.
(c) This section shall not apply to offenses for which
registration is required under Section 290, to violations of Division
10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code, or
to misdemeanor violations of the Vehicle Code relating to operation
of a vehicle or of a local ordinance relating to operation, standing,
stopping, or parking of a motor vehicle.
(d) This section does not apply to a person convicted of more than
one offense, whether the second or additional convictions occurred
in the same action in which the conviction as to which relief is
sought occurred or in another action, except in the following cases:
(1) One of the offenses includes the other or others.
(2) The other conviction or convictions were for the following:
(A) Misdemeanor violations of Chapters 1 (commencing with Section
21000) to 9 (commencing with Section 22500), inclusive, Chapter 12
(commencing with Section 23100), or Chapter 13 (commencing with
Section 23250) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code, other than Section
23103, 23104, 23105, 23152, 23153, or 23220.
(B) Violation of a local ordinance relating to the operation,
stopping, standing, or parking of a motor vehicle.
(3) The other conviction or convictions consisted of any
combination of paragraphs (1) and (2).
(e) This section shall apply in a case in which a person was under
the age of 21 at the time of the commission of an offense as to
which this section is made applicable if that offense was committed
prior to March 7, 1973.
(f) In an action or proceeding based upon defamation, a court,
upon a showing of good cause, may order the records sealed under this
section to be opened and admitted into evidence. The records shall
be confidential and shall be available for inspection only by the
court, jury, parties, counsel for the parties, and any other person
who is authorized by the court to inspect them. Upon the judgment in
the action or proceeding becoming final, the court shall order the
records sealed.
(g) A person who petitions for an order sealing a record under
this section may be required to reimburse the court for the actual
cost of services rendered, whether or not the petition is granted and
the records are sealed or expunged, at a rate to be determined by
the court not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120), and to
reimburse the county for the actual cost of services rendered,
whether or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or
expunged, at a rate to be determined by the county board of
supervisors not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120), and to
reimburse any city for the actual cost of services rendered, whether
or not the petition is granted and the records are sealed or
expunged, at a rate to be determined by the city council not to
exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120). Ability to make this
reimbursement shall be determined by the court using the standards
set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 987.8 and
shall not be a prerequisite to a person's eligibility under this
section. The court may order reimbursement in a case in which the
petitioner appears to have the ability to pay, without undue
hardship, all or any portion of the cost for services established
pursuant to this subdivision.
