CaliforniaPenalCodeSection1203.4givesdefendantsasecondchancethroughexpungementofrecords.Aninvidiual previouslyconvicted,orwhohaspledguilty(ornocontest),canpetitionthecourttohavetheaccusationsdismissedand be released from “all penalties and disabilities” resulting from that offense. AsofJanuary12018,anewlawinCaliforniaprohibitsemployersfromaskingaboutacriminalhistoryuntilaconditional offerofemploymentismade.Althoughtheemployercannotdenyanofferofemploymentsolelybecauseofaconviction, that criminal history may be considered on an individiual basis and serve as a reason to revoke the offer of employment. AnExpungementofarecordhasmanybenefits.Forexample,Californialawgenerallyprohibitspotentialemployersfrom askingaboutorconsidertingacriminalconvictionthathasbeenexpunged.Onceacriminalrecordhasbeendismissed,it generallydoesnotneedtobedisclosedevenwhenaconditionalofferofemploymentismade.Itshouldbenotedthat evenwhenexpunged,somestringentbackgroundcheckswillstillshowapriorconvictionevenifithasbeenexpunged. Here are some of the benefits of an expungment:•Potentialemployersarenowprohibitedfromconsideringpriormisdemeanorandfelonyconvictionsthathavebeen dismissed by a judge even when a conditional offer of employment has been made.•Stateagenciesissuingandoverseeingprofessionallicensingmaytreatanapplicantmorefavorably whenapplyingfor a new license or defending an existing professional license.•Ajudicialdismissalisanofficialacknowledgementthatapersonhasbeenrehabilitiatedfromtheoffensesexpunged. Insomecases,apersonmayalsobeeligibleforaGovernor’sPardon,whichallowsaperson’srightstoownor possess a firearm to be reinstated.•Dependingonthetypeofbackgroundcheckdone,convictionsthathavebeenexpungedwillberemoved.Most backgroundchecksdoneforresidentialrentalapplications,creditchecks,financialaidandothersimilarapplications willincludethesetypesofbackgroundchecks.Backgroundchecksrequiringmorestringentreporting,suchas fingerprinting,willstillincludeapriorcriminalhistorybutwillindicatethatthechargeswereexpungedandcannotbe considered in offers of employment.•Dismissalofapriorconvictionalsogivesyouanewpersonalnewbeginning.Cleaningyourrecordhelpsyoupresent yourself withhonestyinsocialcirclesandprofessionalnetworksandmakeastatement withconfidencethat yourpast is not who you are today.
Proposition 47 Resentencing
Proposition47,passedbyCaliforniavotersin2014,reducedthepenaltiesforsometheftanddrugcrimesbymakingthem misdemeanorsasopposedtofeloniesor“wobblers”(whicharecrimesthattheDistrictAttorneymaychargeeitherasa felonyorasamisdemeanor). Apersonmustmeetcertainrequirementsbeforehe/shecanqualifyforaresentencingunder Proposition47.However,themaximumpenaltiesforthosewhoqualifyare1)sixmonthstooneyearinjail;and/or2)afine ofupto$1,000.ReceivingaresentencingunderProposition47maymeanearlierrelease,immediatereleaseand/ora shorter time until eligibility for an expungement.What crimes may qualify for Proposition 47 resentencing?•Theft crimes where the value of the stolen property or damages are $950 or less and include:oGrand Theft AutooGrand Theft FirearmoReceiving Stolen PropertyoCheck Fraud (forgery)oShopliftingoBad Check Writing (Cal. Pen. Code Section 476(a))•Drug crimes where mere possession of the following is against the law:oControlledsubstances,whichincludenarcotics,illegaldrugs,andcertainprescriptiondrugs(e.g.,Vicodin,Oxycontin, oCannabis (marijuana) if not within allowable regulations under Section 11357oMethamphetamines and other stimulants under Section 11377IfyoubelieveyoumayqualifyforProposition47resentencing,oryouarejustnotsurewhetheryoudo,pleasecontactour officeforaFREECONSULTATION.SuccessfullyappealingyourconvictionunderProposition47requiresathorough understanding of the law, analysis of your facts and review of prior criminal history.
Sealing of Records
CaliforniaPenalCodeSection851.87providesindividualswhohavesuccessfullycompletedapre-filingdiversionprogram tohavetheirrecordofarrestsealed.Upongrantingofthepetitiontosealrecords,apersonmayanswer“no”toaquestion relatedtothearrestforthatcharge(except withrespecttoapplicationstobeapeaceofficer). Althoughthesealedrecords remainaccessibletocriminaljusticeagencies,itprovidesanindividualsanopportunitytoavoidhavingtoanswer questions related to those arrests in the positive on job, school, financial aid, licensing and other similar applications.
CaliforniaPenalCodeSection1203.4givesdefendantsa secondchancethroughexpungementofrecords.An invidiualpreviouslyconvicted,or whohaspledguilty(orno contest),canpetitionthecourttohavetheaccusations dismissedandbereleasedfrom“allpenaltiesand disabilities” resulting from that offense. AsofJanuary12018,anewlawinCaliforniaprohibits employersfromaskingaboutacriminalhistoryuntila conditionalofferofemploymentismade.Althoughthe employercannotdenyanofferofemploymentsolely becauseofaconviction,thatcriminalhistorymaybe consideredonanindividiualbasisandserveasareasonto revoke the offer of employment. AnExpungementofarecordhasmanybenefits.For example,Californialawgenerallyprohibitspotential employersfromaskingaboutorconsidertingacriminal convictionthathasbeenexpunged.Onceacriminalrecord hasbeendismissed,itgenerallydoesnotneedtobe disclosedevenwhenaconditionalofferofemploymentis made.Itshouldbenotedthatevenwhenexpunged,some stringentbackgroundcheckswillstillshowaprior convictionevenifithasbeenexpunged.Herearesomeof the benefits of an expungment:•Potentialemployersarenowprohibitedfrom consideringpriormisdemeanorandfelony convictionsthathavebeendismissedbyajudge evenwhenaconditionalofferofemploymenthas been made.•Stateagenciesissuingandoverseeingprofessional licensingmaytreatanapplicantmorefavorably when applyingforanewlicenseordefendinganexisting professional license.•Ajudicialdismissalisanofficialacknowledgement thatapersonhasbeenrehabilitiatedfromthe offensesexpunged.Insomecases,apersonmay alsobeeligibleforaGovernor’sPardon, whichallows aperson’srightstoownorpossessafirearmtobe reinstated.•Dependingonthetypeofbackgroundcheckdone, convictionsthathavebeenexpungedwillbe removed.Mostbackgroundchecksdonefor residentialrentalapplications,creditchecks,financial aidandothersimilarapplicationswillincludethese typesofbackgroundchecks.Backgroundchecks requiringmorestringentreporting,suchas fingerprinting,willstillincludeapriorcriminalhistory but willindicatethatthecharges wereexpungedand cannot be considered in offers of employment.•Dismissalofapriorconvictionalsogivesyouanew personalnewbeginning.Cleaningyourrecordhelps youpresentyourselfwithhonestyinsocialcircles andprofessionalnetworksandmakeastatement withconfidencethatyourpastisnotwhoyouare today.
Proposition 47 Resentencing
Proposition47,passedbyCaliforniavotersin2014, reducedthepenaltiesforsometheftanddrugcrimesby makingthemmisdemeanorsasopposedtofeloniesor “wobblers”(whicharecrimesthattheDistrict Attorneymay chargeeitherasafelonyorasamisdemeanor).Aperson mustmeetcertainrequirementsbeforehe/shecan qualifyforaresentencingunderProposition47.However, themaximumpenaltiesforthosewhoqualifyare1)six monthstooneyearinjail;and/or2)afineofupto$1,000. ReceivingaresentencingunderProposition47maymean earlierrelease,immediatereleaseand/orashortertime until eligibility for an expungement.Whatcrimesmayqualifyfor Proposition 47 resentencing?•Theftcrimeswherethevalueofthestolenproperty or damages are $950 or less and include:oGrand Theft AutooGrand Theft FirearmoReceiving Stolen PropertyoCheck Fraud (forgery)oShopliftingoBad Check Writing (Cal. Pen. Code Section 476(a))•Drugcrimeswheremerepossessionofthefollowing is against the law:oControlledsubstances,whichincludenarcotics, illegaldrugs,andcertainprescriptiondrugs(e.g., Vicodin, Oxycontin, etc.)oCannabis(marijuana)ifnotwithinallowable regulations under Section 11357oMethamphetaminesandotherstimulantsunder Section 11377IfyoubelieveyoumayqualifyforProposition47 resentencing,oryouarejustnotsurewhetheryoudo, pleasecontactourofficeforaFREECONSULTATION. SuccessfullyappealingyourconvictionunderProposition 47requiresathoroughunderstandingofthelaw,analysis of your facts and review of prior criminal history.
Sealing of Records
CaliforniaPenalCodeSection851.87providesindividuals whohavesuccessfullycompletedapre-filingdiversion programtohavetheirrecordofarrestsealed.Upon grantingofthepetitiontosealrecords,apersonmay answer“no”toaquestionrelatedtothearrestforthat charge(exceptwithrespecttoapplicationstobeapeace officer).Althoughthesealedrecordsremainaccessibleto criminaljusticeagencies,itprovidesanindividualsan opportunitytoavoidhavingtoanswerquestionsrelatedto thosearrestsinthepositiveonjob,school,financialaid, licensing and other similar applications.
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909.626.2003678 S. Indian Hill Blvd., Ste. 210, Claremont, CA 917111109 W. San Bernardino Rd., Ste. 250, Covina, CA 9172230 N. Raymond Ave., Ste. 705, Pasadena, CA 91107Assistant@sabadolaw.comhttp://www.sabadolaw.com