PRACTICE AREAS

Certificate of Rehabilitation

California Certificate of Rehabilitation

A California Certificate of Rehabilitation (COR) is a court order declaring that an individual convicted of a felony has been rehabilitated. Although the COR does not erase your criminal record, it is a key step in clearing your past and can significantly improve opportunities for employment, housing, and professional licensure.

At the Law Office of Ronald G. Brower, we specialize in guiding individuals through the Certificate of Rehabilitation process. We have extensive experience in expungement and rehabilitation law, and we are dedicated to helping you take the necessary steps to put your past behind you.

What Is a Certificate of Rehabilitation?

While a Certificate of Rehabilitation does not completely erase your criminal record, it serves an important purpose in helping you move forward in life. Here’s what a COR does and does not do:

What It Does:

Declares rehabilitation: The COR officially recognizes that you have reformed since your conviction, signaling to employers, landlords, and licensing boards that you’ve turned your life around.
Improves opportunities: A COR can help open doors to employment, housing, and professional licensure, making it easier to move past your criminal history.
Automatic application for a Governor’s Pardon: If granted, the COR also acts as an automatic application for a Governor’s Pardon, which may offer further opportunities to clean up your criminal record.

What It Doesn’t Do:

Does not seal or expunge your record: The COR does not completely seal or erase your criminal record, meaning past convictions may still appear on background checks.
Does not remove legal restrictions: It does not automatically lift restrictions such as limitations on voting or firearm possession that may have resulted from your conviction.

While it’s an important step, the Certificate of Rehabilitation works in conjunction with expungement if you seek further relief.

How to Apply for a Certificate of Rehabilitation in California

To apply for a Certificate of Rehabilitation, you must meet certain eligibility requirements and follow these steps:

Eligibility Requirements

Conviction: You must have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor sex crime in California.
Completion of
Supervision: You must have completed parole, mandatory supervision, and post-release community supervision.
Residency: You must have lived in California for five continuous years before applying.
Rehabilitation: You must demonstrate positive changes, such as stable employment, completing treatment programs, or contributing to the community.

The Application Process

Filing the Petition: Submit your COR application to the court in the county where your conviction occurred or where you currently live, along with evidence of rehabilitation.
Court Review: The court will review your petition. If granted, the COR acknowledges your rehabilitation and automatically serves as an application for a Governor’s Pardon.
Governor’s Pardon: The COR is the first step toward a Governor’s Pardon, which may further help in clearing your record, but it requires separate approval from the Governor.

California Expungement Lawyer

The Certificate of Rehabilitation (COR) is a crucial step toward clearing your criminal record. However, it does not fully seal or expunge your conviction. Expungement is the legal process of removing a conviction from your record so it no longer appears in background checks. Unlike the COR, which acknowledges rehabilitation, expungement officially dismisses the conviction and seals the record. To be eligible for expungement, you must have completed your sentence, probation, and parole. Once granted, expungement can improve your job prospects, allowing you to legally answer “no” to the question, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” when applying for jobs. To apply for expungement, you must file a petition with the court. Additionally, you must provide evidence of rehabilitation and successful completion of your sentence. If granted, your conviction will be dismissed and sealed. This means it will no longer appear on most background checks. A California expungement lawyer is critical in this process.