Pardons and Expungement, Sealing Criminal Record Category: Crime and Prisons

Overview

A person who has been convicted of a crime may have options to seek clemency (pardon) or a conviction review while still incarcerated, and may have a variety of options to reduce the effects of their conviction once they have completed their sentence and probation, such as expungement, record sealing, and seeking a pardon. Recent laws have changed penalties for certain crimes and a person convicted of those crimes may be able to seek resentencing at a lesser level (changing a felony to a misdemeanor).

Clearing Your Criminal Background

Clearing your criminal record in California can be a complex process, but it is possible under certain circumstances. There are two main avenues to pursue: expungement and sealing/destroying records. Expungement is available for individuals who have completed their probation or sentence for a misdemeanor or felony offense and have demonstrated...

Crime and Prisons

The Work Release Division is Sacramento County's alternative to incarceration or in lieu of the payment of certain traffic fines for those convicted of a criminal or traffic offense in Sacramento County. Public hours: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday

700, North 5th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811

916-874-1400

https://www.sacsheriff.com/pages/work_release.php

Sacramento County District Attorney

Crime and Prisons

901, G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

916-874-6218

https://www.sacda.org/

Sacramento County Public Defender

Crime and Prisons

The Office of the Public Defender provides the following legal services to individuals who cannot afford to hire the services of a private attorney. Provides indigent defendants their constitutionally guaranteed right to representation when accused of felonies and misdemeanors. Represents clients in developmentally disabled and conservatorship cases. Represents juveniles in delinquency cases.

700, H Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

916-874-6411

https://publicdefender.saccounty.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Civil Self Help Services

Courts and Procedure

Civil Self-Help Services (SHS) helps people without lawyers who have questions about simple issues related to a civil case. They can give you general information and help you prepare your own forms in the area of civil law. Common topics include civil harassment restraining orders, petitions for change of name/gender, and expungement of criminal convictions.

813, 6th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

916-874-1421

civilselfhelp@saccourt.ca.gov

https://saccourt.ca.gov

Sacramento Justice League

Family

Sacramento Justice League is a nonprofit corporation in Sacramento offering low cost legal services and occasional free clinics. Topics covered include:

Direct Family Law Legal Services
Name Changes/Birth Certificate Changes
Criminal Expungement Assistance
Credit and Debt Relief Assistance
Self-Represented Family Law Workshops
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
Landlord/Tenant Issues
Bankruptcy

916-754-2986

https://sacjustice.wordpress.com/

Certificate of Rehabilitation: Cleaning Up Felony Convictions when Expungement Is Not Available

Background The granting of a Certificate or Rehabilitation restores some of the rights of citizenship that were forfeited as a result of a felony conviction. It may also be used to relieve some persons convicted of sex offenses of their registration requirements (see California Penal Code (PC) § 290.5 for...

Expungement (Cleaning up a Criminal Record): Understanding Sacramento Court’s Expungement Packet

Free Video! Criminal Records Expungement Video saclaw.org/video-library/expunging-conviction/ This video is a joint project of the Sacramento County Public Law Library and formally the Voluntary Legal Services Program. It explains how to ask the court to dismiss your convictions and expunge your record. Have your criminal record and blank forms ready...