Free SLO County clinic aims to expunge criminal records and reduce felonies. Here’s how
San Luis Obispo County residents can get their criminal records expunged, felonies reduced or arrest records sealed in a free “Clean Slate” clinic on Friday.
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, public defenders office alongside legal organizations Restorative Partners, People’s Justice Project, California Rural Legal Assistance and the San Luis Obispo College of Law will host the clinic.
The clinic is Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo County Law Library at 1050 Monterey St., #125.
“We are proud to work with our community partners to help with the time-consuming and paperwork-intensive process of expunging criminal records and helping folks get on track to leading productive and engaged lives,” said District Attorney Dan Dow in a news release on Monday. “The added stability that comes from obtaining employment and housing helps reduce rates of recidivism which improves the overall quality of life in our community.”
Criminal record expungement is the process where a record of criminal conviction is destroyed or sealed from a state or federal record.
In other words, those who are able to expunge their criminal record mean they will have a clean slate and can answer “no” if asked on a job application whether they have been convicted of a crime. And employers are not allowed to consider an applicant’s expunged conviction that would be discovered through a background check.
Additionally, people applying for professional licenses — such as a contractor or real estate license — could have a much better chance at successfully getting the license after their records are expunged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Nearly one in every eight Californians with a criminal record is potentially eligible to obtain a full criminal record expungement, according to the California Policy Lab.
“Even a misdemeanor conviction or probation violation disqualifies a person from a wide range of benefits and opportunities,” said Joseph Doherty, managing attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance’s Central Coast Homeless Prevention Collaborative, president of People’s Justice Project, and professor of law at San Luis Obispo College of Law.
“Under federal law, any probation violation for any type of misdemeanor disqualifies an individual from welfare benefits, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food stamps, low-income housing and Supplemental Security Income for the elderly and disabled,” Doherty said in the news release. “The consequences of a drug misdemeanor conviction are particularly harsh and can include the loss of health-care coverage, welfare and student financial aid.”
Record expungement can help people move on, added Sister Theresa Harpin, executive director of Restorative Partners.
“A prison sentence should not be a lifelong punishment,” Harpin said in the news release. “A criminal history can impact employment, professional licenses, education, getting a loan, purchasing insurance, adopting a child, volunteerism and more. Having a criminal record expungement process helps formerly incarcerated people succeed and promotes safety.”
To make an appointment for the Clean Slate clinic, call 805-902-2752 or email reentry@crla.org. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are strongly preferred.
