The following record-clearing options may help anyone reduce the impact of his or her California state criminal record. Of course, clearing your criminal record requires knowing precisely what is contained on your criminal record. An experienced record-clearing attorney such as John Patrick Dolan has been helping Californians move forward from their criminal pasts for over 40 years.
If you have a misdemeanor conviction
*If convicted of a misdemeanor and still on probation, you may request early release from probation and file a petition to have the conviction dismissed.
*If convicted of a misdemeanor and you have completed probation, you may file a petition to have the conviction dismissed.
*If convicted of a misdemeanor and never given any probation, you may file a petition to have the conviction dismissed.
If you have a felony conviction
*If convicted of a felony and still on probation you may request early release from probation and file a petition to have your conviction reduced to a misdemeanor and dismissed.
*If convicted of a felony and done with probation and/or county jail time, you may file a petition to have the conviction reduced and dismissed.
*If convicted of a felony and never given any probation at all but sentenced to county jail, you may file a petition to have the felony reduced to a misdemeanor and file a petition to have the conviction dismissed.
*If you were convicted of a felony and were sentenced to state prison or under the authority of the California Department of Corrections, you may file a petition for Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon.
If you have a drug possession conviction
*If convicted of possession of marijuana for personal use, then it is not necessary to petition for dismissal of the offense. Under California Health and Safety Code §§ 11361.5 and 11361.7, all possession of marijuana for personal use convictions, after January 1, 1976, are erased from an individual’s record after two years. However, any conviction for cultivation, sales, or transportation will remain on your record.
In most of these cases, a petition under PC 17(b) to get a felony reduced, a PC 1203.3(a) petition for early termination of probation, and/or a PC 1203.4(a) petition for expungement will be required to be filed. An experienced attorney such as John Patrick Dolan may provide valuable assistance to anyone with a criminal record.
John Patrick Dolan has over forty years of experience working to help his clients obtain the best resolution possible when freedom and reputation are at stake. Call the Dolan Law Firm today at (760) 775-3739 or find out more online here.
