Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Depending upon the conviction, you could be eligible for a certificate of rehabilitation. That's a ruling by a trial court that you have turned your life around, and it's forwarded to the governor as a pardon application.

If you're not eligible for a certificate, you can still apply directly to the governor for a pardon. Note that if you have felony convictions from multiple cases, the governor can only pardon you if a majority of the California Supreme Court approves.

Sealing an adult conviction isn't an option.

Whichever approach you use, you'll want a lawyer. Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss your options further

Pardon is done by filing a Petition for pardon with the governor. It is time consuming, expensive, done only on overwhelming 'good cause', and there have been less than a handful granted in the last decade.

Sealing adult records is essentially never done.

Instead, while the general rule is �Records are forever�, some CA convictions can be 'expunged' from criminal records by proper application and Petition to the court, but ONLY IF there was no felony prison time sentenced whether served or not, and if it was not for certain listed sexual crimes, and if all terms of sentencing and at least one year of probation are completed, and if there are no new charges pending. Sounds like yours qualifies. If successful, the conviction would be withdrawn and the charges dismissed. Expungement does NOT �clear�, 'remove' or �erase� the conviction, but does change the record to show 'conviction reversed and dismissed by expungement'. It doesn�t �disappear�. The conviction is still a 'prior' or 'strike' for purposes of repeat offense. It still shows on your record that is accessible to government agencies, law enforcement and the courts, such as through LiveScan. Expungement specifically does NOT restore firearms rights lost due to felony conviction. Expungement will help in obtaining and keeping employment. When applying for a job in the private sector, in response to any question concerning your prior criminal record, you may deny that you were arrested or convicted of the offense.

If you�re serious about doing this, and you think you qualify under those rules, feel free to contact me for the legal help you'll need.