Do I have to disclose an expunged felony in California?
Asked by: Mrs. Margarett Corwin | Last update: September 19, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)
If Employers ask if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you can respond with "NO". On questions from Government Licensing Applications, if you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you should disclose the expunged case but can tell them it has been dismissed and set aside.
Will my expunged record show up on a live scan in California?
A: For any license or credential given by an agency in CA, any livescan will pull up a person's entire criminal history as it is stored in the DOJ repository. However, agencies prefer to see cases that have been expunged or sealed for dozens of reasons.
Do I have to disclose a felony after 7 years in California?
California prohibits CRAs from reporting convictions older than seven years under Cal. Civ. Code 1786.18(a)(7). This law also prohibits CRAs from reporting arrests not leading to convictions even if they occurred within the last seven years, but pending cases can be reported.
Will an expunged record show up on a federal background check?
A Level 2 FBI Background Check
A Level 2 check will even uncover those sealed or expunged records – especially if they involve the mistreatment of children, the elderly, or the disabled.
Can you become a police officer with an expunged felony in California?
Under Government Code section 1029, a person who has been convicted of a felony cannot become a police officer in California. However, if you have been convicted of a felony, it may be possible to reduce that felony to a misdemeanor, and then have the misdemeanor expunged. Contact our office for more information.
Can you Expunge a Felony Conviction in California?
Can I own a gun with an expunged felony in California?
Thus, even if you have had a conviction expunged in California, you will still have the ban if that conviction was for a felony or for a qualifying misdemeanor that triggered either a ten-year or lifetime ban on owning or possessing a firearm. Unlawfully owning or possessing a firearm is a crime.
Can police see expunged records in California?
Once expunged, such records cannot be accessed for general law enforcement or civil use. However, under certain exceptional situations, the expunged records can be searched, retrieved, and used, but this occurs only in exceptional circumstances which normally require a court order or statutory authorization.
Will a felony show up on a background check after 10 years?
Under Cal. Civ. Code 1786.18(a)(7), California mandates that a conviction can't be reported when it's older than seven years. Arrests that didn't lead to convictions can't be reported regardless of how much time has elapsed.
Do you have to disclose expunged records for security clearance?
The answer to this question will almost always be emphatic: yes, you should disclose the record even though it has been expunged. Although expungement laws vary from state to state, generally speaking, they are not actually deleted or destroyed when criminal records are expunged.
Can judges see expunged records?
Courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, and other criminal justice agencies can access expunged records for future criminal investigations and charging and sentencing decisions.
What is the new California expungement law 2024?
2024 Update: California has recently adopted legislation that limits some offenses (specifically violent and serious felonies under §1192 and §667) from expungement eligibility. More on this below. For Felony Expungements, click here.
What is the 7 year rule?
The 7 year rule
No tax is due on any gifts you give if you live for 7 years after giving them - unless the gift is part of a trust. This is known as the 7 year rule.
How long till a felony is off your record in California?
In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison.
Can employers see expunged records in California?
This means that for a vast majority of the jobs you will be applying for, your expunged conviction will NOT be visible to your potential employer and you have no duty to disclose any convictions that have been expunged, which necessarily drastically increases your marketability.
What shows up on a doj live scan?
A livescan background check will typically check for criminal history at the state and national levels. This includes any past convictions or arrests, as well as any outstanding warrants. It may also check for any sex offender registry information.
Can the FBI see my expunged record?
Expunged records can, in some cases, appear on FBI background checks, especially those conducted by law enforcement or certain government entities.. While expungement is meant to remove or restrict access to criminal records, the effectiveness of the process varies by jurisdiction.
Do expunged records show up on fingerprinting in California?
Yes – your fingerprints will still be on file at both the state and federal levels. That's because fingerprints are physical records, and expungements do not destroy them. At the state level, your fingerprints won't be connected to your expunged case, but they could still be used to identify you.
Do expunged records show up on TSA background check?
Expunged records will still appear on your background check when applying for TSA PreCheck; they will not necessarily disqualify you from being accepted into the program.
Do felonies show up after 7 years in California?
Senate Bill 731 automatically clears most felony convictions from your criminal record after 4 years. Under California Senate Bill 731, most state felony convictions will get automatically sealed from your criminal record four years after the case ends.
What is the 7 year rule in California?
After employers in California make a conditional employment offer, they may order a criminal background check that goes back only seven years (with some exceptions). Therefore, employers cannot see convictions older than seven years and cannot pass you over based on seven-plus old convictions.
What is a red flag on a background check?
A red flag in a background check is anything alarming or concerning about a person's past. This could be a history of breaking the law, lying about work experience or education, or other serious issues. However, not all red flags are the same. Some might be small and not that serious, depending on the job.
What is the new law for expungement in California?
There is a new law in California that went into effect in 2023 called the California Clean Slate Act (SB 731). Under the Clean Slate Act, authorities will automatically expunge – or dismiss – certain arrests and criminal convictions.
Can the government see expunged records?
In most cases, your criminal records are sealed when you get an expungement. However, the government still maintains evidence of your conviction. If you are applying for government jobs the conviction will still likely show up in a criminal background check.
What felonies Cannot be expunged in California?
- Murder.
- Attempted murder.
- Voluntary manslaughter.
- Involuntary manslaughter.
- Serious sex crimes.
- Serious violent crimes.
- Certain domestic violence crimes.
- Serious crimes committed while on probation.