Expungement program with the county shared by Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

East County News Service

March 24, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Working to dismantle barriers to employment and housing for formerly incarcerated residents, San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe of District 4 has announced a new initiative offering a "fresh start" through a mobile expungement service.
 
Montgomery Steppe said she wants to help individuals navigate the complex process of cleaning up adult criminal records.
 
For many, a past conviction remains a permanent roadblock to stability, even years after completing their sentences.

The opportunity is currently in the "interest" phase. Residents are encouraged to submit an interest form to determine their eligibility for the clinic. The interest form can be found at the following link: Expungement Clinic Interest Form with participation limited to the first 250 registrants.
 
The form opened on March 23 and will close on May 31.
 
While the term “expungement” is commonly used, legal experts note that in California, the process is technically a “dismissal.” Under state statute, a case is re-opened, the original finding of guilt is withdrawn, and a "not guilty" plea is entered before the judge dismisses the case.
 
While the dismissal does not completely erase the offense from a criminal record or seal it from public view — meaning it may still be visible to law enforcement or immigration officials — it offers significant protections in the private sector.
 
Most private employers are prohibited from seeing or considering a conviction that has been successfully expunged. For thousands of San Diegans, this distinction can mean the difference between an automatic rejection and a fair chance at a job or a lease.
 
“A criminal record should not be a life sentence of poverty and exclusion,” the Supervisor’s office shared via social media. “This clinic is a step toward determining how we can support your path toward a fresh start.”
 
The County clarified that completing the interest form does not guarantee legal representation or an automatic expungement, but serves as the necessary portal to connect residents with trusted legal support. All information collected through the form is strictly confidential.
 
For those seeking more information on the legal nuances of the process, the San Diego County Public Defender’s office maintains an extensive FAQ page at sandiegocounty.gov/public_defender

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Comments

Expungement should not...

Submitted by on

Be allowed for certain people's criminal records. I know some that have gotten jobs working in positions where they absolutely should not be employed! Example: Apartment managers with criminal backgrounds of theft, drug use, etc. who have extensive access to tenant files which contain sensitive information such as social security numbers and bank account information. Actually, the managers I've known throughout the years have had no background check performed whatsoever. Frightening what they can do with this private information - identity theft is a huge problem these days. Schools are also vulnerable areas of employment as we have seen over the years with pedophiles infiltrating them.