Kern County already offers a free starting point
The Kern County Public Defender's Clean Slate Program says it can help people clean up and expunge criminal records. The county describes the service as free and confidential and directs people to call 661-868-4799 for more information.
That call is a better first step than paying an unknown service or relying on a social-media flyer. Have the name used in the case, case number if available, court location and approximate arrest or conviction date ready. Do not post those details publicly.
California does not have one true-expungement process
California Courts warns that true expungement does not exist in the state. Instead, different remedies may reduce the effect of a record, dismiss a conviction or seal an arrest record. The correct route depends on what happened in the case, so a form that fits one person may be wrong for another.
For an arrest that did not lead to a conviction, the state self-help guide says a person may be able to ask for sealing under Penal Code section 851.91. For many misdemeanor convictions, the court guide identifies Petition for Dismissal form CR-180; a judge uses form CR-181 to grant or deny the request. Eligibility and legal consequences still depend on the case.
Felony records require a separate eligibility check
The California Courts felony guide separates several possible paths, including a request to dismiss some felony convictions and Proposition 47 relief for certain eligible offenses. It says a pending new case can affect a dismissal request and notes that there is no single statewide form for every felony-dismissal situation.
A dismissal also does not erase every consequence or make every record disappear. Before filing, use the state guide and ask the county program which remedy fits the specific disposition. This article provides public-service information, not legal advice.
Why we are not listing the circulating October 28 clinic
A recent community post advertised a free expungement clinic as Saturday, October 28, 2026. October 28 falls on a Wednesday this year, and we could not find a matching official Kern County, court or legal-aid event page confirming the time and place. Because the day and date conflict, readers should not make travel plans from that notice alone.
If an organizer publishes an official correction, verify it with the named host before sharing personal case information. In the meantime, the county Clean Slate number and the California Courts self-help pages are active, public routes that do not depend on that event.
Sources and further reading
Kern County Public Defender: Clean Slate Program ↗
California Courts: Clean your record ↗
California Courts: Arrest with no conviction ↗
California Courts: Misdemeanor record cleaning ↗
California Courts: Petition for Dismissal (CR-180) ↗
California Courts: Felony convictions and Proposition 47 ↗
Kern Superior Court: Self-Help Center ↗