Who Benefits from Automatic Record Relief in California?

REPORT: Who Benefits from Automatic Record Relief in California 

FACT SHEET: Record Relief Primer 

PRESS RELEASE: New Report: Nearly 2.5 Million Californians Are Eligible to Have Their Convictions Automatically Relieved

An estimated eight million Californians have a criminal record and the consequences from having a record can persist even after their contact with the system is complete. A criminal record can have profound and lasting impacts on people, affecting key areas of their life such as employment, parental rights, stable housing, access to safety-net benefits, and voting. To address these “follow-on” punishments, the California legislature has enacted the most comprehensive automatic record relief laws in the country. Under these laws, all non-convictions (arrests that do not lead to a conviction), most misdemeanor convictions, and many low-level felony convictions are eligible for automatic relief after people complete their sentences and specified waiting periods. Additionally, many people with more serious felony convictions can petition the courts to have their records relieved. California began implementing automatic record relief in July 2022, after several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This report uses individual-level data from the California Department of Justice to estimate the number of Californians who likely benefit from these automatic record relief laws, including those that have all of their criminal records relieved and receive a “clean slate” — meaning they have no remaining criminal record. We also estimate the share who are likely to maintain a clean slate over the following five years.

Suggested Citation: Skog, A., Palos Castellanos, K., Lacoe, J., Pickard, M. (2024). Who Benefits from Automatic Record Relief in California? California Policy Lab, University of California. https://capolicylab.org/who-benefits-from-automatic-record-relief-in-california/