Seal and Destroy Adult Arrest Record, and Expungement in California.

Many people do not realize that having a “criminal record” doesn’t always mean that you have been convicted of a crime. Merely being arrested (even if charges were never filed) can have an adverse effect on an individual’s ability to obtain employment. We have had clients apply for their dream job only to have an old arrest from years ago pop up on their background check. Even though you may have never been charged with any crime, the previous arrest record can show up on your rap sheet and have serious social and employment consequences.

Fortunately in California, pursuant to Penal Code 851.8, there is a process by which an individual can seal and destroy his or her arrest records. Once your arrest records have been sealed and destroyed, all the records (including police reports, fingerprints, rap entry and booking photos) are deleted. Thereafter, you can legally and confidently say “no” if an employer asks you whether you have been arrested on a job application.

PC 851.8 – Determining Your Eligibility

If you have been arrested but there were no charges filed by the prosecutor’s office…
PC 851.8(a) states that “In any case where a person has been arrested and no accusatory pleading has been filed, the person arrested may petition the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the offense to destroy its records of the offense.”

If you have been arrested and charges were filed but no conviction occurred (the underlying case was dismissed or you were acquitted through a California jury trial.
PC 851.8(c) states that “In any case where a person has been arrested, and an accusatory pleading has been filed, but where no conviction has occurred, the defendant may, at any time after dismissal of the action, petition the court that dismissed the action for a finding that the defendant is factually innocent of the charges for which the arrest was made.

Submitting Your Petition to Seal & Destroy Arrest Records

If you have been arrested and no charges were filed, PC 851.8 requires that you submit a “Petition to Seal and Destroy Arrest Records” to the arresting law enforcement agency. The agency then has the option to agree to the petition or deny it. If granted, the police will seal your records for three years. After three years, they will destroy your records. If you do not hear back from the arresting law enforcement agency within 60 days after you have submitted your petition, it has been denied. A formal petition for factual innocence will then need to be filed in Superior Court. A hearing will then be held on the question of your factual innocence in front of a judge.

If your case was dismissed, or you were acquitted by a jury, there is a slightly different mechanism. In these cases, you must submit your petition directly to the Superior Court that would have jurisdiction over your case. A copy of the petition must be filed with the DA’s office so they can respond. A hearing will then be held on the question of your factual innocence in front of a judge.

Important Information

How much time do you have to submit your petition?

Generally you can petition to seal and destroy your records in California up to two years after the date you were arrested or the date that charges were filed against you. But if you can show good cause, the judge has discretion to hear your case beyond these deadlines.

How does the judge determine whether to grant or deny your petition?

Judges usually hold a short hearing where witnesses testify to determine whether to grant or deny your petition to seal and destroy your California arrest records. The judge has to make a decision as to whether or not you are “factually innocent” of the charges against you. This is the most difficult part of these types of hearings. You will need to prove to a judge that there was no “reasonable cause” to arrest you in the first place. If you can prove this, the judge will grant your petition and order your arrest records to be sealed and destroyed permanently. It will be as if the arrest never happened.

The main difference in terms of eligibility of these two statutes come down to the difference between being “legally innocent” and “factually innocent.”

PC 851.8 involves persons who are “factually innocent” of the crimes. In order words, “no reasonable cause” exists to believe that you committed the offense and you should never have been arrested in the first place.

On the other hand, the new PC 851.91 statute involves persons who are “legally innocent” of the crime they were arrested for. In other words, you were never found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and were never convicted of any crime.

The two statutes also provide different levels of safety in terms of sealing your arrest record. For example, an 851.8 arrest record sealing permanently

removes your record for all purposes, while an 851.91 sealing has some limitations.

Misdemeanor Expungement

Though not as serious as a felony, misdemeanors can still be detrimental for those with a conviction on their records. I recognized that everyone deserves a second chance. Your record should not follow you for the rest of your life. Fortunately, the State of California offers those with misdemeanor convictions the opportunity to have their record expunged.

Will a Misdemeanor Show up On a Background Check

Yes. Misdemeanor convictions will show up on background checks when you are applying for a job, renting a property, or applying for a loan. Misdemeanors are public information and easily accessible.

What Misdemeanors are Eligible for Expungement

Fortunately, most misdemeanors are eligible for expungement in California under Penal Code 1203.4. I have helped of people with misdemeanors on their records to petition for and get approved for misdemeanor expungements. Listed below are common misdemeanors that can be expunged, (but not limited too):

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Petty Theft
Misdemeanor drug charges
Domestic Violence
Disorderly conduct
Trespassing
Prostitution
Reckless driving
Vandalism

If your misdemeanor does not qualify for an expungement, please email me.

Information needed to seal your arrest record in California

California Penal Code Section 851.91 requires that the following information be included in a petition to seal an arrest record:

The petitioner’s name and date of birth.
The date of the arrest for which sealing is sought.
The city and county where the arrest took place.
The law enforcement agency that made the arrest.
Any other information that will help “identify the arrest” in question. Examples might be the police report case number or the booking number that was used by the prosecuting attorney when reviewing the arrest.
A list of the offenses upon which the arrest was based or, if an accusatory pleading was filed based on the arrest, the charges in the accusatory pleading.
A statement as to whether the petitioner is entitled to have his or her arrest sealed as a matter of right or is requesting to have his or her arrest sealed in the interests of justice. If one is asking that the motion be granted “in the interest of justice” additional declarations are needed explaining how the interests of justice would be served by granting the petition.