Santa Cruz County Expungement Lawyer

Attorney for Expunging Criminal Records in California, Including Drug Crimes

When you have a criminal conviction on your record, it can negatively impact your employability and many other facets of your life. In California, however, your past does not have to haunt you for years or even decades, as many convictions can be dismissed through what is often referred to as expungement. While the case does not disappear, it does reflect as dismissed. This can be helpful when seeking employment.

Expungement is a legal process in which a judge reopens your previous case in order to perform a full dismissal. Sometimes all one needs to show is that probation was completed successfully, other cases require a showing of "good cause."

An experienced lawyer can help with the expungement process. Criminal defense lawyer, John W. Thornton, who has served the Santa Cruz, CA area since 1990, is ready to help you apply for a dismissal of your case(s). This can help you get the job you want and serve as a significant building block for a bright future.

Am I Eligible for Expungement?

When you entrust Attorney John W. Thornton with your expungement case, he will first determine if any previous convictions on your record qualify for a dismissal per Penal Code section 1203.4. If you are eligible, Attorney Thornton will file a petition with the court for such a dismissal. You may be eligible for expungement if:

• The offense you wish to have expunged was a state charge, not federal;
• You either did not receive probation or you completed probation and one year has passed since your original conviction date;
• Any incarceration you completed occurred at a county jail, not a state prison;
• You were not convicted of a crime that involved a sexual offense committed against a child;
• You have completed all terms of your sentence, including payment of all fines and any restitution.

Once your eligibility is established, the petition has been filed, and related fees are paid, Attorney John W. Thornton will represent you at any hearings that are necessary.

Contact a California Expungement Lawyer

Criminal record expungement can open up a whole new world of occupational, educational, and financial opportunities. To schedule a free consultation with Santa Cruz County criminal defense attorney John W. Thornton, Attorney at Law, contact us at 831-426-5800.

Note: One is not required to be represented by an attorney to apply for a 1203.4 dismissal. While you might prefer to engage an attorney's help (the forms and process can be confusing), the Santa Cruz Law Library has the forms available for those who wish to represent themselves.