Practice area – Expungements
Need to clean up a criminal record in Riverside County?
Dismissal, sealing, reduction, certificate of rehabilitation. There are several paths to post-conviction relief, and each has different eligibility, timing, and effect.
Available 24/7
What you’re facing
A criminal conviction can follow you for years, affecting employment, professional licensing, housing, immigration, and gun rights. California offers several post-conviction remedies, each with different requirements and effects. Petition for Dismissal under PC 1203.4 sets aside the conviction in most cases. Reduction under PC 17(b) reduces wobbler felonies to misdemeanors retroactively. Sealing under PC 851.91 removes arrest records when no conviction occurred. Each option has eligibility rules: completed probation, no current charges, type of offense, time elapsed.
Defenses I build
Post-conviction work is procedural and strategic. I review your entire record to identify every available remedy. Some clients are eligible for multiple paths. I file the petitions, gather supporting declarations, address the DA opposition, and represent you at the hearing if needed. Most expungement matters resolve without the client needing to appear. The result: a record that opens doors instead of closing them.
Common Questions
What does an expungement actually do in California?
California does not use the word expungement formally. The closest equivalent is a Petition for Dismissal under PC 1203.4. It sets aside the conviction. The case is dismissed AFTER conviction, meaning you can answer no to most employment questions about convictions. It does NOT erase the record from law enforcement databases, restore gun rights in most cases, or remove sex offender registration.
When am I eligible to file?
Generally, you must have completed probation, have no current criminal cases pending, and have no unpaid restitution. Some convictions are ineligible (most sex offenses, certain serious felonies). Sealing arrest records (PC 851.91) is available when an arrest did not result in conviction.
Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor?
If the original charge was a wobbler (chargeable as misdemeanor or felony), PC 17(b) allows reduction after sentencing. Reduction has powerful effects. It restores firearm rights, removes the felony from background checks, and often qualifies you for additional relief.
Types of Post-Conviction Relief I Handle
California offers multiple paths to clean up a criminal record. Below are the most common forms of relief.
Petition for Dismissal (PC 1203.4)
Sets aside conviction after probation completion. Most common form of expungement.
PC 17(b) Reduction
Reduces wobbler felony to misdemeanor. Restores gun rights and removes felony from background checks.
Sealing & Destruction (PC 851.91)
Removes arrest records when no conviction resulted. Acquittal, dismissal, or no charges.
Certificate of Rehabilitation
Available after specific waiting periods. Step toward Governor’s Pardon.
Governor’s Pardon
The Governor’s act of clemency. Restores most civil rights including gun rights.
Factual Innocence (PC 851.8)
For clients who were arrested but should never have been suspected.
Prop 47 Reductions
Retroactive reduction of certain drug and theft felonies to misdemeanors.
Prop 64 Reductions
Retroactive reduction or dismissal of marijuana offenses.
SB 1437 / PC 1170.95
Vacating felony murder convictions for non-killers.
When to File and What to Expect
Expungement timing and strategy matter. Key considerations:
- Wait until probation is fully completed and all fines are paid
- Gather employment, education, and community involvement evidence to support interests of justice
- If multiple convictions exist, file in strategic order (some require lower-level relief first)
- Petitions can be filed jointly across multiple cases when timing aligns
- Most matters are decided on the papers; few require court appearances
If you have a conviction holding you back, the answer is almost never to live with it. There is almost always SOME form of relief available. The first consultation is the right place to map it out.
