Sealing an Arrest Record in California When Charges Were Dropped

If you were arrested but never convicted, California lets you petition the court to seal the arrest record. Once a record is sealed, the arrest is generally treated as if it never happened, so it stops surfacing on most background checks. 

The Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo helps people across Orange County clear an arrest that ended without a conviction. Attorney William W. Bruzzo, a former U.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocate who has practiced criminal defense in Orange County for more than 30 years, has helped clients clear an arrest that kept appearing on background checks long after the case ended.

What Sealing an Arrest Record Means Under Penal Code 851.91

Sealing an arrest record means the court orders the arrest information removed from public view and marked as sealed. The arrest no longer shows up in routine background checks for jobs, housing, or loans.

California created this relief through Penal Code section 851.91. The statute applies to an arrest that did not lead to a conviction, which keeps a closed case from quietly following you for years.

Who Is Eligible When Charges Were Dropped, Dismissed, or Never Filed

Eligibility centers on the absence of a conviction. You may qualify when the prosecutor dropped the charges, the court dismissed the case, no charges were ever filed, or a jury acquitted you.

Some petitions are granted as a matter of right, while others rest on the interests of justice, meaning the judge weighs whether sealing serves a fair result. Because the path depends on how your case closed, our Orange County criminal defense attorney can tell you which route fits before you file.

How the Petition Process Works and What Sealing Does for You

The process begins with a written petition filed in the county where the arrest occurred, supported by the details of how the case ended. The official record-cleaning guide for California walks through the forms and steps the court expects.

After review, the judge decides whether to grant the order, and a granted petition seals the arrest from public access. Some exceptions remain, since certain agencies can still see sealed records in limited situations. Our firm prepares these petitions alongside the other criminal defense cases we handle, and our Orange County criminal defense lawyer can manage the filing so you do not face the paperwork alone.

Put the Arrest Behind You, Call The Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo

At the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo, we believe a case that ended without a conviction should not keep costing you jobs and opportunities. Our firm reviews how your case closed and handles the petition from start to finish.

Call our firm at (714) 547-4636 or contact us online for a free consultation. El Abogado Habla Español.