Frequently Asked Questions

First, register online here.

Next, you’ll attend to an on-campus meeting where we will introduce the program. A Live Scan operator will be onsite and will submit your fingerprints to the California Department of Justice. Within a few weeks, you will receive a copy of your record (RAP sheet) in the mail. The Access Project will also receive a copy.

Then, pro bono volunteers (lawyers at major law firms around the state working for you at no cost) will review your RAP sheet to see what convictions can be reduced or expunged. They will prepare all the forms that you will need to file with the court. If there are no eligible convictions, we will contact you to discuss your situation.

Most applicants will need to support their petition with evidence, called a “declaration.” The declaration consists of a personal statement along with supporting letters of reference and documents such as transcripts and certificates. We will let you know whether you will need to write a personal statement and gather supporting materials. Trained volunteers will be available to assist you. For more information, see the Declarations page.

Once your petitions are complete, we will contact you to review your convictions and the available remedies, and we will go over your petitions.  Once you sign off,  The Access Project will file them with the appropriate court on your behalf.

Some courts schedule a hearing for clean slate cases; others decide them based on the paperwork we submit. If you have a hearing, we can assist you with preparation, but you will need to attend the hearing yourself. For courts in large cities or which hold Zoom hearings, we may be able to assign a volunteer to represent you at the hearing.

TAP offers its services through a “limited scope representation” program. We offer advice and prepare documents for you, but we will be filing your documents “in pro per,” which means that you will be representing yourself in court if there is a hearing in your case. Please remember, though, that we are always available to give you step-by-step support in representing yourself and are here to answer questions that may come up.

It takes a several months for us to receive and analyze all the legal records, help everyone prepare their declarations,  and file thousands of pages of legal documents with the court.

For information on your specific program dates, please review the timeline.

All costs for reviewing your record and preparing petitions including Live Scan fees, copying and printing costs, will be covered by The Access Project; however if you don't attend your school's Live Scan meeting, you may need to pay out-of-pocket for your fingerprinting.  We will let you know.