SLO County Announces Quarterly Clean Slate Clinics for Criminal Record Expungement
- Eligible San Luis Obispo County residents can now apply to clear older convictions and arrest records under a new quarterly enrollment system announced by the District Attorney’s Office.
- The free legal initiative, known as the SLO Clean Slate Clinic, assists qualifying individuals with criminal record expungement, felony reductions, and arrest record sealing under California law.
- The clinic transitions to a rolling quarterly enrollment model giving residents four opportunities each year to seek legal relief.
Eligible San Luis Obispo County residents can now apply to clear older convictions and arrest records under a new quarterly enrollment system announced by the District Attorney’s Office.
The free legal initiative, known as the SLO Clean Slate Clinic, assists qualifying individuals with criminal record expungement, felony reductions, and arrest record sealing under California law. District Attorney Dan Dow’s office announced the structural shift.
Expanding Record Relief Through Rolling Quarterly Enrollment
The clinic transitions to a rolling quarterly enrollment model giving residents four opportunities each year to seek legal relief. Three of the four annual enrollment cycles process petitions by appointment, without a public clinic event.
Partnering organizations in this initiative include the San Luis Obispo College of Law, Restorative Partners, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA), People’s Justice Project, San Luis Obispo Defenders, the SLO County Probation Department, and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. Officials designed the framework to eliminate life obstacles such as background checks that hinder employment, housing, and education access for people who have completed their sentences.
Protecting victims and keeping our community safe have always been at the heart of my work as District Attorney, and the Clean Slate Clinic serves both. Every petition is carefully reviewed by Probation and by my office before it goes to the court.
Dan Dow
Early Clinics and Screening Results
Since the first clinic launched in March 2023, the program has served 550 people and filed 1,856 petitions with the courts. Out of 1,746 petitions decided to date, the court has granted 1,740 and denied six, with 110 petitions remaining pending.
Deputy District Attorneys screen applications prior to court submission. Out of 1,500 total applications, they have granted approval to 1,480 and denied 220 due to factors such as a serious offense causing victim harm, active probation or pending new charges, insufficient crime-free duration, probation violations, or subsequent criminal behavior following conviction.
Quarterly Clinic Deadlines and Public Event Schedule
Applicants must meet specific quarterly deadlines to secure legal assistance through the rolling enrollment model. Record relief remains subject to statutory limits, meaning it is not automatic, does not erase accountability, and does not restore the right to own or possess a firearm.
- Winter 2026 — Enrollment cutoff: Nov. 30 by appointment only. No public event.
- Spring 2027 — Enrollment cutoff: To Be Determined. Public gathering details: SLO County Law Library, 1050 Monterey St., #125, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408, scheduled for Friday, March 26, 2027, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are strongly preferred.
- Summer 2027 — Enrollment cutoff: May 31, 2027, by appointment only. No public event.
- Fall 2027 — Enrollment cutoff: Aug. 31, 2027, by appointment only. No public event.
Interested residents can contact the SLO Clean Slate Clinic at (805) 902-CRLA or online at: reentry@crla.org before the applicable quarterly enrollment cutoff.
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