
Quoting
Imhoff & Associates
Despite what Section 1203.4 offers, an individual who successfully applies for an expungement order may be unpleasantly surprised to find how little relief they have been granted. That is because Californias expungement law is more notable for the relief it does not provide than for the relief it does. First, the record of an expunged conviction continues to be made available to law enforcement and the public. The expunged conviction continues to appear in both California and FBI criminal records. In addition, if convicted of a subsequent crime, the expunged conviction can be used to enhance any imposed sentence. Section 1203.4 also specifically provides that DUI convictions will be used to enhance subsequent DUI sentences. Finally, expungement does not restore the right to own or possess a firearm.