Criminal Record Improvement - Santa Clara County

The guide may apply to you if:

• Your adult criminal convictions occurred in Santa Clara County.
• You were sentenced to jail or probation rather than to state prison time or parole. Certificate of Rehabilitation is a different legal remedy and is for those sentenced to state prison or parole. The topic is not covered in this guide.
• You do not owe restitution (money owed a victim). You can contact County Department of Revenue at (408) 282‐3200 to find out whether you have any restitution balance due (a balance for fees is different from restitution).
• You are not serving any sentence.
• You are not on probation (how to ask for early termination of probation is not discussed in this guide). 
• You have not been charged with any new offense.

This page includes information about record improvement (expungement), who qualifies for these services, and contact information to get in touch with the office and begin the process/

This resource includes general information about the Certificate of Rehabilitation, information about pardons, and instruction sheet and the necessary petitions for completing the certificate/pardon. 

This resource includes additional information about what record improvement looks like in Santa Clara, why it can be helpful, who is eligable for record clearance, and appointment setting for the public defender's office.