Stanislaus County Residents Clear Criminal Records with Help from CRLA and Pro Bono Partners
Stanislaus, Calif.— Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, Stanislaus County Probation Department, Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office, and California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) will host a free legal Clean Slate Clinic for Stanislaus County residents for criminal record expungement, felony reduction, and arrest record sealing on Friday, November 7, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 707 14th St. Modesto, CA 95354.
The purpose of the Clean Slate Clinic is to help eliminate a barrier to employment and housing for individuals who have criminal records. A criminal record—no matter how old or how minor—can be a significant barrier to reentry for people when most employers, property managers, and universities use background checks to screen applicants.
“The added stability of employment and housing after incarceration helps reduce rates of recidivism which improves the overall quality of life in our community," said Jeff Laugero, Stanislaus County District Attorney. “Often criminal records prevent opportunities for employment and housing, though many of these records are eligible for expungement. The District Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our community partners through the Clean Slate program to identify those records eligible for expungement and help people get back on track to leading productive and engaged lives."
“The vital expungement services we will help provide at our November 7, 2025, Stanislaus County 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 Jennifer Jennison, Stanislaus County Public Defender. “A criminal record can be a barrier to success and stability in life,” she said. “We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and this clinic will give individuals the opportunity for a fresh start.”
“We value our partnership with our justice partners in Stanislaus County and are proud to participate in this important community initiative,” said Mark Ferriera, Chief Probation Officer at the Stanislaus County Probation Department. “The support we will provide during the November 7th clinic will be instrumental in providing additional opportunities to individuals to successfully reintegrate into society,” he said.
“A prison sentence should not be a lifelong punishment,” said Reed Wagner, Assistant Public Defender for Stanislaus County. “A criminal history can impact employment, professional licenses, education, getting a loan, purchasing insurance, adopting a child, volunteerism and more,” he 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, Inc. (CRLA). Under federal law, any probation violation for any type of misdemeanor disqualifies an individual from welfare benefits, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), 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.
Record clearance is crucial to ensuring that the collateral consequences that stem from a criminal record are eliminated or significantly reduced for the millions of individuals trying to rebuild their lives toward a successful future. Criminal record expungement confers numerous benefits for individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors and felonies. When applying for a job, individuals who successfully expunge their criminal record can lawfully answer “No” if asked whether they have been convicted of a crime. Moreover, an employer is not permitted to consider an expunged conviction that is discovered through a background check in making a hiring decision. Expungement also benefits those seeking state and local professional licenses. To be sure, even after an expungement, an individual must disclose a conviction in response to a question posed in an application for a state or local license (e.g., a contractor license or real estate license) or in an application for public office. However, many licensing agencies are more likely to look favorably upon individuals whose convictions have been expunged. Further, under California law, “a person shall not be denied a license on the basis of any conviction, or on the basis of any acts underlying the conviction” if the conviction has been dismissed.
The California Policy Lab estimates nearly 1 in every 8 Californians with a criminal record is potentially eligible to obtain a full criminal record expungement. 81% of Californians with a criminal record are estimated to be eligible to have at least one prior arrest or conviction expunged. If you are interested in clearing your criminal record, please attend the Stanislaus County Clean Slate Clinic on November 07, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 707 14th St. Modesto, CA 95354. Walk-ins are welcome.
Activities described in this press release were supported in whole or part by the California Community Reinvestment Grants program within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
