The internet has made it easier for institutions to access the history of an individual, making it harder to live a life with a criminal arrest or conviction record. Applying for a new job, finding a place to live, or even buying a car to get around is much harder to do with a criminal record attached to your name.

Similar to reducing a felony conviction to a misdemeanor, getting your conviction expunged is a way to erase it from your criminal record. Once the expungement process has been completed, no record of an arrest that has been expunged will appear in a background check made by a potential employer, educational institution, or other companies that do criminal background checks.
 

Expungement Requirements

In California, defendants who are convicted of a misdemeanor or felony are eligible for an expungement if:

1. They have completed probation for the specific offense
2. They did not serve time in state prison for the offense

However, you are not eligible for an expungement in California if you are convicted of serious sex offenses against children, or if you:

• Are currently charged with a criminal case
• Are on probation
• Are serving a sentence for a criminal offense

Other options, like a Certificate of Rehabilitation, are available for you If you are not eligible for an expungement.
 

Probation Violations

Generally, those who apply for an expungement must have met all the requirements to be eligible. However, if you received a probation violation, there is still a chance to convince the judge to grant you an expungement.

A special hearing will be held by the court to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for expungement. The judge will look at several factors when considering your eligibility for an expungement. Some factors include:

• Performance during probation
• How serious of a conviction you have
• Criminal history

Once a judge has evaluated the factors above, and any other pertinent information, they will make a decision.
 

Benefits Of Expungement

After obtaining a expungement, you will no longer be discriminated against by an employer when looking to obtain a job. This is valuable at a time where information companies have made it easy for potential employers to access vast databases of criminal records.

Once you get your conviction legally expunged, employers can still find out about your criminal conviction but may not be able to use it as an excuse to deny you employment.

Other benefits include the ease of obtaining professional state licenses and your credibility as a witness in court will no longer be hindered by an expunged conviction.
 

California Expungement Process

The process for obtaining an expungement in California is often complex and time consuming. To ensure the highest chance of success, we strongly recommended that you speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney before starting.

Here at Quinnan Law, we have excellent track record of success in obtaining expungements, and we will thoroughly analyze your case to determine if an expungement is the best course of action based on your unique circumstances.

If you or a loved one wish to expunge their conviction, please contact us today for a free consultation to determine whether or not an expungement is possible.