Rising Scholars Network Clean Slate Program

We use the term “clean slate” to refer to a patchwork of state laws that allow people to change their records after convictions through dismissals or reduction to a lower level of severity.

These laws are known by many names, such as “post-conviction relief” or “second chance remedies” or just “expungement.”

Some types of felonies can be reduced to misdemeanors. For example, Prop. 64 reduces some marijuana offenses to misdemeanors, and Prop 47 reduces some common lower-level property and drug crimes. Some other felonies can be reduced to misdemeanors if the court decides to grant the reduction.

In California, some convictions can be “expunged,” which allows you to withdraw your plea of guilty and have your case dismissed. Dismissal of your conviction releases you from some of the consequences of past justice involvement. See the FAQ page for more details about what expungement does and does not do for you.

All Rising Scholars (whether currently enrolled or not) are eligible to have TAP check their records for free to see if they have convictions that can be reduced or dismissed. TAP won’t know if your convictions can be addressed without seeing your record. See the FAQ page for more details about eligibility.

New laws have been passed recently to make expungement available to more people who have served a prison sentence. If you are uncertain whether you qualify for relief, we recommend that you register for the program so that we can advise you. See the FAQ page for more details.

Under a new law, Penal Code 851.93,  the California Justice Department has begun sealing arrest records automatically.  If you don't want to wait for your arrest to be sealed automatically, you can apply on your own by following the directions here.  There is no fee for arrest sealing.