Find the final conviction
Use the judgment to identify the statute and conviction classification. A booking charge can differ from the charge resolved in court. Keep later orders that changed the judgment.
Investigate reduction separately
Some jurisdictions provide a process to lower a conviction's classification. That process needs its own legal basis and evidence. It should not be described as automatically sealing the case.
Address the consequence that matters
Explain whether the concern is a background report, licensing, housing or something else. A remedy that helps one problem may leave another unresolved. Immigration and firearms questions need specific legal advice.
A way to organize your review
Gather the facts behind the question
Read the diagram as text
- Court and case
- Identify the jurisdiction and case number.
- Disposition
- Find the final result for each charge.
- Sentence
- Collect the sentence terms and completion evidence.
- Later history
- Keep later orders and other relevant case records.
Common question
Does every felony qualify for expungement?
No nationwide rule covers all felonies. The offense, outcome, history and particular state remedy need to be reviewed.
Official resources
Consult the issuing authority for current forms and local procedure.
- California Courts — Record-cleaning indexwww.selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
- California Courts — Felony convictions and Proposition 47www.selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
- California Penal Code section 17leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Utah Courts conviction reduction guidancewww.utcourts.gov
- Utah Courts adult expungement guidancewww.utcourts.gov