Proposition 47 was a ballot measure passed by voters on November 4, 2014, and it may be able to help you get rid of a felony conviction.
It had several parts to it, including reducing several criminal charges that were formally felonies or “wobblers” (can be a felony or a misdemeanor), to strictly misdemeanor charges. It recognized that there was an in-balance between the act and the penalties associated with it. Going forward, all those cases will be filed as misdemeanors.
For anyone out there in California who was convicted prior to November 4, 2014 of one of the crimes covered by Proposition 47, you are in luck too. There is a way to get your charge reduced to the misdemeanor it would have been had it occurred after November 4, 2014. The first step would be determining if your case would apply. If you still have your paperwork, it’s likely something you can do yourself. However, if it was a while ago, you misplaced your paperwork, or you would simply prefer someone else to do the leg-work for you, contacting an attorney is a great way to start.
It’s important to know that the conversion to misdemeanor is not automatic. It must be requested through the court.
The next step comes in filing that request. With the proper paperwork put together, the court will be able to convert your charge from felony to misdemeanor, restoring many of the rights you were denied because of the felony conviction. It would then be possible to consider expunging the charge entirely.
If you have a felony conviction, such as a drug possession, theft charge, or other similar felony, give us a call to evaluate your eligibility to get it reduced under Proposition 47, and potentially expunged entirely. There’s no charge for consultation, and a few minutes is all it takes to give you peace of mind.