California Expungement Among Nonprofits, Legal Aid Offices, and Law School Clinics

• In Event: Data in Indigent Defense: Management of Public Defense and Court Systems

Abstract

As of July 2024, thirty-two states have some form of automatic relief for individuals with convictions, but each state varies in defining the circumstances for which automatic relief applies. Although "true expungement” does not exist in California, individuals can have their convictions dismissed and/or their records sealed from public view through automatic relief or by petitioning the court. Despite being granted expungement or a sealed record, recipients may still experience the collateral consequences, which calls for improved policies and legislation protecting individuals. This study uses surveys and interviews to examine the California expungement process (including recent changes and the inclusion of legal Artificial Intelligence services) among nonprofits, legal aid offices, and law school clinics. Implications for policy and practice will be discussed.

Author

• Cecily Coco, California State University, San Bernardino