Expungement & Occupational Licenses
A Fresh Start
Our legal team works to protect the civil and employment rights of formerly incarcerated people by providing legal advice, representation, and free legal clinics to help people reduce, reclassify and/or expunge their criminal convictions. Since its inception in 2007, our legal department has provided pro bono services to assist thousands seeking relief from the burden of criminal histories, opening doors to job opportunities by expunging criminal records and offering access to occupational licenses.
WE OFFER FREE LEGAL CLINICS TO HELP PEOPLE REDUCE, RECLASSIFY, OR
EXPUNGE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
These clinics are held on the second and fourth Saturday and third Wednesday of each month. To register for one of our clinics:
PROPOSITION 47
Prop. 47 reclassifies certain low-level, nonviolent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Individuals currently serving felony sentences for these reclassified misdemeanors can petition the court for resentencing. If you have already completed your sentence, you can apply to have your conviction reclassified to misdemeanors. These offenses include:
- Simple drug possession
- Petty theft under $950
- Shoplifting under $950
- Forgery under $950
- Writing a bad check under $950
- Receipt of stolen property under $950
Please note that the deadline to petition for resentencing or reclassification under Proposition 47 is November 4, 2022.
PROPOSITION 64
Prop. 64 legalizes recreational marijuana for adults 21 years or older. If you have already been sentenced for a marijuana-related act that is now legal, the court is required to dismiss and seal your record of conviction. The law reduces criminal penalties from felonies to misdemeanors or infractions for many marijuana-related offenses as well. Some acts that have been reclassified include:
Possession:
Possession:
Cultivation:
Cultivation:
Give Away:
Public Use:
≤ 28.5 grams
> 28.5 grams
≤ six plants
> six plants
≤ 28.5 grams
—
Legal
Misdemeanor
Legal
Misdemeanor
Legal
Infraction
Please note that this list only applies to adults 21 years or older and that exceptions to these reclassifications exist.
To find out whether you’re eligible for relief under either of these propositions:
Expungement Year in Review
602 Petitions for Expungement
With a 92% Success Rate
64 Petitions for Reclassification
With an 84.3% Success Rate
95 Prop. 47-eligible Petitions
With an 85.3% Success Rate
5 Prop. 64-Eligible Petitions
With a 100% Success Rate
Occupational Licenses
Our legal team has helped more than 140 people obtain occupational licenses and contributed to efforts to reform post-conviction relief and enforce background-check laws. For more information:
