Microsoft Word - SCCLL_Expungement

SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide

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ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty

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ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsin

SantaClaraCounty

Disclaimer

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SCCLLstaffmembersarenotpracticingattorneysorcourtemployeesandarenotpermittedtogivelegal

advice.Wecompiledtheinformationthatwewereabletoobtainintothispathfinderforinformational

purposesonly.Foradvicespecifictoyoursituation,pleaseconsultanattorney.

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DISCLAIMER.............................................................................................................................1

INTENDEDREADERS.................................................................................................................2

FREEASSISTANCE.....................................................................................................................3

OURPROBATIONOFFICER............................................................................................................3

ANTACLARACOUNTYPUBLICDEFENDER.....................................................................................3

ANJOSESTATEUNIVERSITYRECORDCLEARANCEPROJECT(RCP).................................................3

TANFORDCOMMUNITYLAWCLINICS............................................................................................3

REQUESTINGYOURCRIMINALRECORD....................................................................................4

TYPESOFEXPUNGEMENT........................................................................................................4

XPUNGEMENTLAW......................................................................................................................5

WAYSTODOANEXPUNGEMENT.............................................................................................5

OINGTHROUGHTHEPROBATIONDEPARTMENT............................................................................6

ProbationDepartmentForms.................................................................................................6

OINGTHROUGHTHESUPERIORCOURT.........................................................................................7

CourtForms............................................................................................................................7

1. CR‐180PetitionforDismissal.................................................................................................................7

2. MC‐031AttachedDeclaration................................................................................................................7

3. CR‐181OrderforDismissal.....................................................................................................................8

4. POS‐040ProofofService........................................................................................................................8

TheHearing............................................................................................................................8

ADDITIONALRESOURCES.........................................................................................................9

ONLINE.......................................................................................................................................................................9

INTHELIBRARY...................................................................................................................9

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SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty

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IntendedReaders

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Theguidemayapplytoyouif:

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YouradultcriminalconvictionsoccurredinSantaClaraCounty.

Pleasecheckwiththecountyyouwereconvictedintoseeiftheirlocalpracticesdiffer.Manycounty

lawlibrarieshavecreatedresearchguidessimilartothisone.



Youweresentencedto

jailorprobationratherthantostateprisontimeorparole.Certificateof

Rehabilitationisadifferentlegalremedyandisforthosesentencedtostateprisonorparole.The

topicisnotcoveredinthisguide.



Youdonotowerestitution(moneyowedavictim).YoucancontactCounty

DepartmentofRevenue

at(408)282‐3200tofindoutwhetheryouhaveanyrestitutionbalancedue(abalanceforfeesis

differentfromrestitution).

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Youarenotservinganysentence.

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Youarenotonprobation(howtoaskforearlyterminationofprobationisnotdiscussedin

this

guide).



Youhavenotbeenchargedwithanynewoffense.



SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty

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FreeAssistance

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YourProbationOfficer

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Ifyouwereonformalprobationassignedaprobationofficer,itmayhelptotalktoyourprobationofficer

beforestartingtoclearyourrecordonyourown.He/shemightbeabletoassessyoureligibility,advise

youonhowtoproceedwiththepetitionandexplaintoyoutheconsequences

ofanexpungement.To

findoutwhoyourprobationofficeris,pleasecontacttheProbationDepartmentat(408)435‐2000.

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SantaClaraCountyPublicDefender

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/pdo/cases/pgms/Pages/expungement.aspx

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ThePublicDefender’sOfficehasaReentryExpungementProgram

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Location:ReentryResourceCenter

151W.MissionStreet

SanJose,CA95110

Call(408)535‐4290toscheduleanappointment

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SanJoseStateUniversityRecordClearanceProject(RCP)

http://www.sjsu.edu/justicestudies/programs‐events/rcp/

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Since2008,studentsenrolledintheJusticeStudiesclasseshavebeenhelpingclientspreparecourt

petitionsandassistingthemwithcourthearings.TheprocessnormallystartswithaSpeedScreening

session,followedbyaone‐on‐oneconsultationforthosechosen.

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Phone:(408)924‐2758

Email:[email protected]

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StanfordCommunityLawClinics

https://law.stanford.edu/community‐law‐clinic/criminal‐record‐expungement/

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Theclinicisalawschooleducationalprogramandacceptsclientsgenerallyatthebeginningofeach

semester.Appointmentcanbescheduledafteraninitialevaluationoverthephone.



StanfordCommunityLawClinic

 2117UniversityAve.,SuiteA

 EastPaloAlto,CA94303

 (650)

725‐9200



SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty

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

RequestingYourCriminalRecord

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YougenerallywillneedthefollowinginformationfromyourRAPsheet(RecordofArrestsand

Prosecutions)tofilloutanexpungementapplication/petition:

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 Allcasenumbers

 Thedatesandtypesofallconvictions

 Thecodesection(s)violated,and

 Thesentence.

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Therearetwotypesof

RAPsheets,stateandcounty.PeoplewhoarecertainthattheyhaveonlySanta

ClaraCountyconvictionsusuallyrequesttheircountyRAPsheetsbecauseithasmoredetail.

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Table1:PlacestoGetaRAPSheet

 State SantaClaraCount

ApproximateFee

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$45 $25

FeeWaiver?



MightbeAvailable.ContactAgency. MightbeAvailable.ContactAgency.

ProcessingTime



1week 1month

Agenc

 CaliforniaDepartmentofJustice

RecordReviewUnit

P.O.Box903417

Sacramento,CA94203‐4170

CountySheriff’sOffice

55WestYoungerAvenue,

SanJose,CA95110

Phone (916) 227‐3849



(408)808‐4700

MoreInfo http://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/securit



http://bit.ly/ITM80J

Coverage State‐widerecordsinallcounties SantaClaraCountyrecordsonlywith

moreinformationforeachconviction

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TypesofExpungement

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Anexpungementpetitionfallsintooneoftwocategories:mandatoryordiscretionary.Thetypeof

expungementdependsonwhetherajudgehasachoicewhenmakingadecision.Discretionarypetitions

requireacourthearingsothatpetitionerscanexplainwhytheyshouldbegrantedan

expungement/dismissalintheinterestofjustice.

Whilethesamesetofformsareusedforboth,

discretionarydismissalpetitionerswillhavetodosomepersuasivewritinginoneofthefilingscalleda

Declaration.



SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty





Table2:TypesofExpungement

 MandatoryDismissal DiscretionaryDismissal

NatureofAction Entitlement Persuasion

Buzzwords RequiredbyLaw “InterestofJustice”

Decisionmadethrough Documentation Documentation&Hearing

Hearings NotRequired(mayrequestahearing

toexpeditetheprocess)

Yes

Results Decisionmailedtoyou Decisionmadeattheendofthe

hearing.



ExpungementLaw



ThelawthatdescribesbothtypesofexpungementcanbefoundinvarioussectionsofthePenalCode,

primarilysection1203.4andsection1203.4a.Generallyspeaking,inordertofindoutwhattypeof

expungementyouareeligiblefor,youneedtogathertheinformationlistedbelowfromyourRAPsheet.





 Thetypesofyourconvictions,

 Whetherprobationispartofyourconvictions,

 Whatyoudidduringyourprobationorduringtheyearfollowingyourconvictioninnon‐

probationcases

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WaystoDoAnExpungement

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InSantaClara,theProbationDepartmentandtheSuperiorCourtworktogetheronexpungement

petitions.Afteranapplication/petitionisfiled,theProbationDepartmentdraftsarecommendation

regardingtheoutcomeofthepetitions.TheCourtwillthenmakeafinaldecisioninanorder.



Althoughitisthecourtthatmakes

afinaldecisiononyourapplication/petition,anexpungement

applicationdoesnotnecessarilyhavetobefiledwiththecourt.ItcouldbefiledwiththeProbation

Department.Itdoesnotmatterwhattypesofconvictionyouhave(i.e.felony,misdemeanoror

infraction),whetheryouwereonsupervised(formal)probationorcourt

(informal)probation,orhowyou

havebehavedsinceconviction.



SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty





Table3:WaystoDoAnExpungement

 ProbationDepartment Court

Fee $150or$60 Dependingonyourconvictions

FeeWaivers Mightbeavailable Mightbeavailable

Documentstosubmit/file



AcompletedApplication

Form&

 Otherdocumentsrequested

intheform.

Acompletepleading

 Apetition

 Adeclaration

 Anorder

 Aproofofservice

PartiestoNotify None



DistrictAttorney&

 ProbationDept.





GoingThroughtheProbationDepartment



Afterreceivingyourapplication,theProbationDepartmentwilldraftarecommendationbasedonyour

recordsandpassthepaperworkontothecourtforafinaldecision/order.TheProbationDepartmentwill

thenmailyoutheorderonceitisreceivedfromthecourt.Thewholeprocesstakesaboutfourmonths.



Theorderwilltellyouwhatconvictionsaredismissedandyoucanpetitionwiththecourtforthosethat

arenot.BecausetheProbationDepartmentrecommendsdismissalinallmandatorycasesandno

dismissalinalldiscretionarycases,yourendresultsvarydependingonthetypeoftheexpungement.If

you

choosetocontinuewiththecourt,theprocedureswillbethesameasifyoustarttheinitialfilings

withthecourt,whicharedescribedinthesectionbelow.



Peoplewhohavedifficultiesindeterminingthetypeofexpungementandthosewithmultipleconvictions

normallychoosetostartwiththe

ProbationDepartment.TheProbationDepartmentwillclearupthe

mandatoryconvictionsandleavethediscretionaryonesforthecourt.



ProbationDepartmentForms



TheProbationDepartmenthasitsownapplicationformsavailableonitswebsitehere:

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/probation/adult/record/Pages/default.aspx



Theformsallowyoutosimultaneouslyreduceawobblertoamisdemeanor.Theinstructionsheet

answersmanycommonquestions.Ifyoustillhavequestions,pleasecontacttheProbationDepartmentat

thephonenumberlistedatthe

bottomoftheinstructionsheet.



SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty





GoingThroughtheSuperiorCourt



SomepeopleskiptheProbationDepartmentandfileapetitionwiththecourtdirectlybecausetheyhave

onlydiscretionaryconvictionsorwantaquickerdecision(i.e.intheprocessofapplyingforaprofessional

licenseorajobpending).Ittakesaboutonemonthtogetthefinaldecision/orderfrom

thedateyoufile

withthecourt.



Afterreceivingyourpetition,thecourtwillaskforarecommendationfromtheProbationDepartmenton

yourcasebeforemakingadecision.TheProbationDepartmentwillmakethesametypeof

recommendationsdiscussedabove(i.e.basedonthetypeofexpungementyouare

eligiblefor).However,

thistimeyouareprovidedwithanopportunitytopresentyourargumentinfrontofajudgeinajudicial

hearing.





CourtForms



Eachconvictionrequiresaseparatepleading.Eachpleadingincludesallfourformslistedbelow.Atleast

threecopiesofeachpleadingareneededwhenfilingwiththecourt.Aswewilldiscussbelow,inaddition

tothecopyforthecourt,anothercopywillbesenttotheProbationDepartmentand

theOfficeofDistrict

Attorneysrespectively.Foraself‐helpguidetofillingouttheseforms,wehighlyrecommendlookingat

theSacramentoCountyLawLibrary’sguidetoexpungingcriminalrecords(http://www.saclaw.org/wp‐

content/uploads/sbs‐expunging‐criminal‐records.pdf)



1. CR‐180PetitionforDismissal

http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/cr180.pdf

Thisformtellsthejudgewhatyouwantbasedonwhatlaw.

2. MC‐031AttachedDeclaration

http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/mc031.pdf

Whilethisformisrequiredonlyfordiscretionarydismissalpetitions,manypeoplewillvoluntarily

attachonetotheirmandatorydismissalpetition,becauseitenablesthemtotellthejudgewith

theirownwordswhytheyneedanexpungement.Fordiscretionarydismissalpetitioners,sucha

Declarationisrequired.Thisisyourchance

topresentevidencetoconvincethejudgethatyou

deserveanexpungement.



o TipsfromtheSJSURCPtrainingmaterials:



Firststatethebasicinformationaboutyourconvictionsandsentencesandthenletthe

judgeknowaboutyoureligibilities.Foralongdeclaration,youcanuseheadingsor

sub‐

headingsforbetterorganization.Sampleheadingsfor“interestofjustice”factscould

be:



 Difficultsituationattimeofconviction

 Turningmylifearound

 Problemscompletingprobation

 Employmenthistory

 Currentopportunity

 Familyneed



Youhavetowriteaboutyourpersonalknowledgeandnotsomething

someoneelsetold

you.Ontheonehand,youwanttobespecificandincludeasmanydetailsaspossibletogive

SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty





thejudgeaconcretepictureofwhathappened.Ontheotherhand,youwanttomakesure

youdonotincludeirrelevantorunnecessaryinformationtodistracthim/her.



Submittingsupportingdocumentscouldbehelpful,suchasaletterofsupportfromyour

employerorpastors,acertificateofcompletionof

programsandaccomplishments,or

photosshowingcommunityserviceandvolunteerwork.However,somepeoplepreferto

bringthesesupportingdocumentsforthehearingwhileothersliketosubmittheminthe

initialfilings.Oncefiledallsupportingdocumentsbecomepublicrecord.



3. CR‐181OrderforDismissal

http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/cr181.pdf

Ajudgewillsignitattheendofthehearingwhenadecisionismade.



4. POS‐040ProofofService

http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/pos040.pdf

 InSantaClaraCounty,thecourtwillservethepapersforyou.AProofofServiceformneedstobe

 filedduringyourinitialfiling.Thecourtclerkwillcompleteitlaterwhenthepapersareserved.

 ThecompletedformwillshowthejudgethattheProbationDepartment

andtheOfficeofDistrict

 Attorneyshavebeennotifiedofyourpetitionbyreceivingacopyofallyourfilingsandthatthey

 knowwhenandwheretosendastaffmembertoattendyourhearing.



TheHearing



Thecourtclerkwilltellyouthedateofyourhearingduringyourinitialfiling.Atthehearing,youwantto

tryyourbesttoconvincethejudgethatitisintheinterestofjusticetodismissyourcriminalrecord.You

wanttobringevidencetosupportwhatyousaid

inyourdeclaration(MC‐031)(i.e.howyou’vechanged).

Youwanttomakethejudgebelievethatyouwon’thaveanotherconviction.Ifyoufailtohaveyour

recordsexpunged,donotbediscouraged.Youcouldalwaysstartanotherpetition/applicationin2‐3

monthswhenyouareconfidentthatyou

candobetterinshowingthejudgethatyouhavechanged.



SantaClaraCountyLawLibrary

ResearchGuide



ExpungingAdultCriminalRecordsinSantaClaraCounty





AdditionalResources



Online



 CaliforniaCourts:CleaningYourCriminalRecord:http://www.courts.ca.gov/1070.htm

 Besuretoclickonthe+signsnexttoeachsectiontoshowthecontents.



 SantaClaraCountySuperiorCourt:Self‐HelpCenter:

http://www.scscourt.org/self_help/criminal/clearing_crim_records.shtml



 SacramentoCountyLawLibraryStep‐by‐StepExpungementGuide

:

http://www.saclaw.org/wp‐content/uploads/sbs‐expunging‐criminal‐records.pdf

 GuidetohowtofileforexpungementintheCaliforniacourts,includesline‐by‐line

 instructionsonhowtofilloutformsandhowtoreadaRAPsheet.



 CaliforniaPenalCodeSection1203.4and1203.4a:http://bit.ly/2mkhoQ2



 SantaClaraCountyProbation

Department’sapplicationform:

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/probation/adult/record/Pages/default.aspx

 WhetherornotyoudecidetousetheProbationDepartment’sservice,theinstruction

 sheetisagoodstartingpointinfindinganswerstocommonquestions.



IntheLibrary



IntheReadingRoom

 CaliforniaCriminalDefensePractice,Ch.103,BookcaseA12

 CaliforniaCriminalLaw,3

ed.ByWitkinonBookcaseA12.

 JudicialCouncilFormsBookcaseA10

 CaliforniaCriminalLawProcedure&Practice,§41.15‐41.16,KFC1102.C34CEB‐[YEAR],

BookcaseA12

 LevensononCaliforniaCriminalProcedureKFC1155.L48,BookcaseA12

 LevensononCaliforniaCriminalMotionsKFC1155.L484,Bookcase

A12



OnbookcaseA80‐81ontheFirstFloor

 Deering’sAnnotatedCaliforniaCode

Besuretocheckthepocketpart/supplementforthemostrecentupdatestothelaw.

