Expungement in California

California allows you to expunge a past criminal conviction if you are not facing any charges and you did not go to state prison as part of your offense (rather than county jail). Once probation is complete, your record may be expungedc. If you were not placed on probation, your record may be expunged after one year.

There are numerous benefits to a record expungement. The primary benefit is that your record will no longer show a conviction. While the record may still show an arrest, an employer may not rely on this information in its decision-making. Section 432.7 of the Labor Code, states "No employer, ..., shall ask an applicant for employment to disclose, ..., information concerning an arrest or detention that did not result in conviction, or information concerning a referral to, and participation in, any ... diversion program, nor shall any employer seek from any source whatsoever, or utilize, as a factor in determining any condition of employment including hiring, promotion, termination, ..., any record of arrest or detention that did not result in conviction, .... Nothing in this section shall prevent an employer from asking an employee or applicant for employment about an arrest for which the employee or applicant is out on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial...." Thus, an expungement has the effect of completely eliminating your conviction, making it impossible for an employer to request information about past indescretions.

If you want to avoid being turned down for jobs or being fired because of your past convictions, take the time to get your records expunged. If you are interested in having your record expunged, see our comparison chart for some of the top record-clearing law firms in California.

Why a Law Firm for Expungement?

it is best to use a firm that specializes in expungement work. THis will result in both lower costs and quicker resoilutions. You are also likely to pay significantly less using a firm that specializes in this line of work. This results from specializing in the law and understanding the process. Take a look at some of the top record-clearing firms to get an idea of costs, guarantees, and other information.