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. 

• 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 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.

• Important Notice

Due to the high volume of clients that ARC has received seeking expungement assistance, ARC’s Expungement Project must temporarily cease accepting new applications. This will not impact current clients who have already completed their applications. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your understanding on this matter.