Many people are trying to find out how to clear their criminal record or how to get something off their record (known as an expungement).

Steps to Clear your Record

       The first step is to find out what is on your record. The quickest way to get your criminal record is to retrieve your court papers that were given to you at the time of your conviction. The court paperwork will have the information that you will need, such as the name of the Court, the case number, and the charges that formed your conviction. Many times the conviction will be a result of some sort of negotiation where the initial charges were modified or reduced in exchange for a plea of guilty or no contest.

       If you are unable to find a copy of your court paperwork, then contact your former attorney and ask him/her for the information. You can always go back to the same courthouse where your matter was handled and the clerk of the court will provide you with a copy of the court paperwork. Ask for a copy of the final judgment.

Department of Justice, Criminal Records Division

       If all else fails, you can always contact the Department of Justice, Criminal Records Division, located at 4949 Broadway, First Floor, Sacramento, CA. Phone number is (916) 227-3400. They may charge a fee for this service.

       Once you have determined what convictions you suffered, then there are various options available to you, depending on whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony, and if it was a felony, were you sentenced to state prison. Visit Misdemeanor Expungement and/or Felony Expungement in this section of the website for more information.