• The California Expungement Project

What We Do

The California Expungement Project wants to learn about the experiences and practices of expungement across the state.

We want to talk to people who have petitioned to expunge their records, regardless of whether these requests were granted or denied.

We want to talk to nonprofit providers, public defenders, prosecutors, judges, private attorneys, and other stakeholders who assist in the expungement process.

Through these interviews, we aim to understand which aspects are working and which aspects can be improved. Our aim is to make expungement more accessible and effective for all Californians.

Our Team

The California Expungement Project is conducting this research in collaboration with the Alliance for Safety and Justice and Crankstart. Our team is comprised of:

Naomi Sugie

Professor

Dallas Augustine

Professor

Anu Biswas

Graduate Student

Our Study

Why is this research being done?

California recently passed several laws enabling the expungement of criminal records. This study examines how one of these laws, for petition-based expungement, has been implemented in CA counties, the aspects that are working well, the challenges, and the experiences of people requesting expungement.

Background

Naomi Sugie from the sociology department at the University of California, Los Angeles and Dallas Augustine from the justice studies department at San Jose State University are leading this research study. This study is being funded by Crankstart Foundation in partnership with the nonprofit organization Californians for Safety and Justice. You were selected as a possible participant in this study because of your knowledge and experiences with petition-based expungement. Your participation in this research study is voluntary.

Participate in the research

Click on the buttons below to see a study information sheet describing the research and rights of participants.

Stakeholders Clients

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