County partners to host free record clearing clinic
Record clearance can reduce or eliminate the collateral consequences associated with criminal records for individuals seeking to rebuild their lives
– The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office and community partners will host a free Clean Slate Clinic on Friday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo County Law Library, located at 1050 Monterey St., No. 125, in San Luis Obispo.
The clinic will provide services for eligible residents seeking criminal record expungement, felony reduction, and arrest record sealing. Organizers said the event aims to address barriers to employment, housing, and education that can result from criminal history records.
The event marks the fifth time local agencies have partnered to offer the clinic. Participating organizations include the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, San Luis Obispo County Probation Department, San Luis Obispo Defenders, Restorative Partners, People’s Justice Project, California Rural Legal Assistance, and San Luis Obispo College of Law.
Appointments are available at no cost. Interested individuals can schedule services by calling (805) 902-CRLA or emailing reentry@crla.org. Walk-ins are welcome, but organizers recommend appointments.
“Criminal records can make it very difficult for people to get jobs and housing after incarceration,” said Dan Dow, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney. “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. 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.”
“The vital expungement services we will help provide at our March 6, 2026, SLO Clean Slate Clinic will not only facilitate reentry for individuals with a criminal arrest or conviction but also improve access to equal justice for all,” said Steve Rice, the Primary Public Defender for San Luis Obispo County. “A criminal record can be a barrier to success and stability in life,” he said. “We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and this clinic will give individuals the opportunity to start fresh.”
“We value our partnership with our justice partners in San Luis Obispo County and are proud to participate in this important community initiative,” said Brian Buckley, Managing Attorney at San Luis Obispo Defenders. “The support we will provide during the March 6th clinic will be instrumental in furthering our goal of providing justice to our community’s most vulnerable members,” he said.
“A criminal record can significantly hinder individuals’ ability to reintegrate into society,” said Tom Milder, San Luis Obispo County Chief Probation Officer. “The Clean Slate Clinic leverages important stakeholder partnership to help facilitate successful reintegration by providing legal support and resources for those seeking to expunge their records, thereby removing barriers to things like housing and employment.”
“A prison sentence should not be a lifelong punishment,” said Sister Theresa Harpin, Executive Director for Restorative Partners, Inc. “A criminal history can impact employment, professional licenses, education, getting a loan, purchasing insurance, adopting a child, volunteerism and more,” she said. “Having a criminal record expungement process helps formerly incarcerated people succeed and promotes safety.”
“Even a misdemeanor conviction or probation violation disqualifies a person from a wide range of benefits and opportunities,” said Joseph Doherty, Directing Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance’s Rural Reentry Initiative, President of The 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. The consequences of a drug misdemeanor conviction are particularly harsh and can include the loss of health-care coverage, welfare and student financial aid. Another benefit of this work that we have seen is that our clients who get their expungement petitions granted are not returning to the criminal justice system,” said Doherty.
“San Luis Obispo College of Law is honored to be a long-time collaborator with local justice partners in support of criminal record expungement and related services for formerly justice-involved individuals,” said Campus Dean Erica Flores Baltodano. “As a community-based law school, San Luis Obispo College of Law aims to cultivate graduates who are committed to community service. Our students appreciate the opportunity to help vulnerable members of our community improve their housing and employment prospects and we are proud to be part of this important effort.”
Organizers said record clearance can reduce or eliminate the collateral consequences associated with criminal records for individuals seeking to rebuild their lives. Individuals who successfully expunge certain convictions may lawfully answer “No” when asked about criminal convictions on job applications. Employers are not permitted to consider expunged convictions discovered through background checks when making hiring decisions.
Expungement can also benefit individuals seeking state professional licenses. In some cases, applicants must still disclose convictions when applying for licenses or public office, but licensing agencies may consider successful completion of probation and expungement favorably. Under California law, a person may not be denied a license based on a conviction or the acts underlying the conviction if the conviction has been dismissed.
The California Policy Lab estimates that nearly one in eight Californians with a criminal record may be eligible for full expungement, and 81% may be eligible to have at least one prior arrest or conviction expunged.
