California Clean Slate Act (SB 1106)
Understanding the Clean Slate Act
Automatic Record Relief at Scale
Enacted in 2022, California's Clean Slate Act (SB 1106) provides automatic relief for eligible arrest and conviction records, clearing the path for millions of Californians to access better opportunities without filing petitions.
Key Features of Clean Slate:
- Automatic relief - no petition required for eligible cases
- Applies to arrests and convictions dating back to 1973
- Includes both felonies and misdemeanors
- Relief granted after completion of sentence and required time period
- Updates criminal records automatically with DOJ
Clean Slate Eligibility & Timeline
Automatic Relief Timeline
Arrest Records (No Conviction)
Automatically sealed after statute of limitations expires (typically 1-3 years)
Misdemeanor Convictions
Eligible for automatic relief 1 year after completion of sentence
Must remain conviction-free during waiting period
Felony Convictions
Eligible for automatic relief 4 years after completion of sentence
Applies to felonies not requiring state prison time
Automatically Eligible
- • Arrests without conviction
- • Most misdemeanors
- • Non-violent felonies
- • Probation violations (resolved)
- • Infractions
- • Juvenile adjudications
Not Eligible
- • Serious felonies (PC 1192.7)
- • Violent felonies (PC 667.5)
- • Sex offenses requiring registration
- • Current criminal justice supervision
- • Outstanding restitution/fees
- • Federal convictions
How Clean Slate Works
Automatic Identification
California DOJ continuously reviews criminal records to identify cases eligible for automatic relief based on statutory criteria.
Court Processing
Eligible cases are automatically processed by the courts without requiring any action from the individual.
Record Update
Criminal records are updated to show "conviction dismissed" or "arrest sealed" in DOJ databases and background checks.
Notification (Limited)
Due to the volume of cases, individuals may not receive direct notification. It's important to verify your records have been updated.
Benefits of Clean Slate Relief
Employment Protection
Employers cannot consider dismissed convictions or sealed arrests in hiring decisions under California law.
Legal Benefits
Can legally answer "no" to conviction questions on most applications after relief is granted.
Licensing Eligibility
Many professional licenses become available after convictions are dismissed through Clean Slate.
No Cost Relief
Unlike traditional expungement, Clean Slate relief is completely free and requires no court fees.
Retroactive Application
Applies to eligible cases going back to 1973, providing relief for decades-old convictions.
Statewide Coverage
Automatic relief applies across all 58 California counties uniformly.
Common Clean Slate Issues
Processing Delays
With millions of eligible records, the DOJ and courts face significant backlogs. Your eligible case may not be processed for months or years.
Solution: We can file a traditional petition to expedite relief for time-sensitive situations.
Incomplete Relief
Some eligible cases may be missed due to data errors, missing information, or system limitations.
Solution: We verify all your records and pursue relief for any cases the automatic system missed.
Background Check Lag
Private background check companies may not immediately update their databases after Clean Slate relief is granted.
Solution: We help dispute outdated information with background check companies to ensure accuracy.
Limited Notification
You may never receive notice that your record was cleared, leaving you unaware of your improved status.
Solution: Regular record monitoring ensures you know when relief is granted and can take advantage of new opportunities.
Clean Slate Act FAQs
Do I need to do anything to get Clean Slate relief?
No action is required for automatic relief. However, we strongly recommend verifying your records have been updated and pursuing traditional relief if the automatic process hasn't worked for your case.
How is Clean Slate different from traditional expungement?
Clean Slate provides automatic relief without filing petitions or paying fees, while traditional expungement (PC 1203.4) requires a formal petition. Both achieve similar results - dismissing convictions and sealing records.
Will Clean Slate clear my record from all databases?
Clean Slate updates official DOJ and court records. However, news articles, mugshot websites, and some private databases may still show old information. Additional removal services may be needed for complete online clearing.
What if I need my record cleared immediately?
If you have a job opportunity or other urgent need, don't wait for automatic processing. We can file traditional petitions that typically get results in 6-10 weeks rather than waiting years for automatic relief.
Does Clean Slate apply to federal convictions?
No, Clean Slate only applies to California state convictions. Federal convictions require presidential pardons or other federal relief mechanisms.