Criminal Record Expungement

The California Penal Code provides a means by which people who have successfully completed probation to petition the court to expunge their conviction by having their plea of guilty set aside and case dismissed. The Penal Code also provides a mechanism which allows individuals on probation who have completed all terms of their probation to petition the court to terminate their probation early and expunge their conviction.

Expunging a felony or misdemeanor conviction from your record can greatly enhance your employment prospects and career opportunities.

There are important exceptions to the right to seek an expungement. An individual seeking an expungement must comply with and fulfill all terms of their probation. An expungement candidate must have also been given a grant of probation by the court and not sentenced to state prison.

For those individuals paroled from prison who are seeking to clear their criminal records, other avenues such as a Certificate of Rehabilitation and Executive Pardon from the Governor’s Office must be pursued.

The Penal Code also provides relief for individuals who were falsely or unlawfully arrested. A Petition for Factual Finding of Innocence can be filed with the arresting police department and the court to have the arrest record sealed and destroyed.

Our office is prepared to assist you with every avenue of post conviction relief including reduction of a felony conviction to a misdemeanor, early termination of probation, misdemeanor and felony expungements, certificates of rehabilitation, and pardons.

Seeking representation by an experienced lawyer such as the Law Offices of C. Bradley Patton is essential to be sure you obtain the highest level of relief that is legally available to you.