SB

731

Due to recent changes in California law, most Californians with felony convictions are  eligible for record expungement.  

Eligibility:

• You may not be under post-release supervision.
• You must have been off post-release supervision for at least two years.
• You have never been convicted of a crime that requires you to register under Penal Code 290 (sex offender registry).

*If you attended firecamp while incarcerated, you may be eligible for expungement relief immediately upon release from prison, even if you are still under supervision. 

If you believe you might be eligible to seek an expungement of your criminal record through the courts, and would like help with your expungement through ARC, please complete the online form here, follow ARC’s social media to learn about upcoming expungements clinics. Learn more below!

• What is expungement?

Expungement is a legal remedy that amends the RAP (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions). It does two things: dismisses the conviction and seals the record.

• What changes in law made felony expungement possible in California?

AB 2147 (Reyes) went into effect in 2021, and created a pathway for people who participated in firecamp while incarcerated to get their records expunged.
SB 731 (Durazo, 2023) expanded record cleaning eligibility to include felonies for most Californians, and created a pathway for automatic dismissal of misdemeanor convictions.

• What Expungement services does ARC provide?

ARC provides education on Felony Expungements, free live scanning  to obtain your RAP at our legal clinics, and assistance creating your petition packet. We then connect you to an attorney who will help you file your petition, and verify if your case needs representation or if you are able to represent yourself in court. ARC will support you through the entire process and ensure that there are minimal to no out-of-pocket costs.

• What if I do not have a felony but a misdemeanor?

Misdemeanors are now automatically expunged in California due to the passage of SB 731. This process is taking courts time to implement so do not be discouraged if your misdemeanor has not yet been expunged. If you have concerns about this, we are happy to connect you with one of our incredible partners across California that specialize in all kinds of record-cleaning cases.

• How can I get the process started?

If none of the above circumstances apply to you, you are eligible to seek an expungement of your criminal record through the courts. If you would like help with your expungement through ARC, please complete the online form here.

 If you have specific questions, email [email protected]

Or keep an eye on our social media for upcoming expungement clinics where we offer a presentation that walks you through the process and a free Live Scan.