California Penal Code

§ 1203.4a

PEN § 1203.4a Effective Jan 1, 2023Title 8 · Part 2 · Ch. 1

Statute text

(a)Every defendant convicted of a misdemeanor and not granted probation, and every defendant convicted of an infraction shall, at any time after the lapse of one year from the date of pronouncement of judgment, if they have fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, are not then serving a sentence for an offense and are not under charge of commission of a crime, and have, since the pronouncement of judgment, lived an honest and upright life and have conformed to and obeyed the laws of the land, be permitted by the court to withdraw their plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or if they have been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and in either case the court shall dismiss the accusatory pleading against the defendant, who shall be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which they have been convicted, except as provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6 of this code or Section 13555 of the Vehicle Code.

(b)If a defendant does not satisfy all the requirements of subdivision (a), after a lapse of one year from the date of pronouncement of judgment, a court, in its discretion and in the interest of justice, may grant the relief available pursuant to subdivision (a) to a defendant convicted of an infraction, or of a misdemeanor and not granted probation, or both, if the defendant has fully complied with and performed the sentence of the court, is not then serving a sentence for any offense, and is not under charge of commission of a crime.

(c)(1) The defendant shall be informed of the provisions of this section, either orally or in writing, at the time they are sentenced. The defendant may make an application and change of plea in person or by attorney, or by the probation officer authorized in writing, provided that, in any subsequent prosecution of the defendant for any other offense, the prior conviction may be pleaded and proved and shall have the same effect as if relief had not been granted pursuant to this section.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 734, Sec. 4. (SB 1106) Effective January 1, 2023.