Clearing a criminal record in Los Angeles, California
This page is for people with a past conviction in Los Angeles County who want to clean up their record. California has no true expungement, but it has several ways to dismiss or limit a conviction. This page explains the main ones and links to licensed lawyers with criminal law on record.
What "expungement" means in California[1][2]
California does not erase convictions. What people call expungement is usually a dismissal under Penal Code section 1203.4: the court lets the person withdraw the guilty plea and dismisses the case.
A dismissal has limits. The conviction must still be disclosed on some applications, such as for public office or a state license, and it can still count as a prior conviction if there is a later case.
Who can ask for a dismissal[2]
In general, a person can ask for a dismissal after completing probation, or after the court ended probation early, as long as they are not currently serving a sentence, on probation for another offense, or charged with a crime.
Some convictions cannot be dismissed this way. The petition goes to the court where the case was decided.
Automatic record relief[3]
For many convictions since January 1, 1973, California now grants relief automatically once the person meets the conditions in Penal Code section 1203.425. The court record then shows that relief was granted. Not every conviction qualifies, and a person can still file a petition if relief has not been granted.
Steps to take[1][4]
- Get your case number and the court where you were convicted. Los Angeles Superior Court cases can be looked up through the court.
- Use the court's "Clean your record" guide to see which option fits your case.
- File the petition with the court that handled the case, and keep a copy of the order once it is granted.
Lawyers in Los Angeles, California
The directory lists 9,698 lawyers with an active California license and an office of record in Los Angeles, California; 657 of them have Criminal Law as a practice area on record (listed in the directory's source file; origin not confirmed, not a certification).
A license record shows a lawyer may practice. It does not show experience with a specific kind of case.
You can check any lawyer's license yourself with the State Bar of California lookup.
State Bar of California license lookup · Browse these lawyers in the directory
Questions
Will a dismissal remove my conviction from background checks?[2][3]
It changes what the record shows, and many private employers may not consider a dismissed conviction. It does not erase the record, and some government and licensing checks still see it.
Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor?[1]
In some cases, yes. The court's self-help guide lists reduction as one of the ways to clean a record, and eligibility depends on the offense and the sentence.
You choose which lawyer to contact and what to share. Nothing you type is sent to a lawyer without your say-so.
Sources
- Clean up your criminal record, Judicial Branch of California (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- California Penal Code section 1203.4 (dismissal after probation), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- California Penal Code section 1203.425 (automatic relief), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Superior Court of Los Angeles County (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Check the official sources linked here and talk to a licensed lawyer about your facts.
Reviewed and last updated 2026-10-31. To report an error, write to notices@esqcopilot.com.