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California Drug Diversion Records (1000 PC) can be Sealed

Diversion, often called "1000 PC" or "DEJ" (deferred entry of judgment) is a program wherein a first offender for certain drug violations is sent to an alternative program that allows criminal proceedings to be suspended.

The defendant then completes a drug education program ("diverted" from criminal proceedings), pays a fee or fines or both, and when successful in completing the terms of diversion, the case is dismissed without a conviction in 18 months or so.

This is an excellent program that keeps many experimental or casual drug users from suffering a serious criminal conviction. Under PC § 1000.4 a successful diversioner is not supposed to be discriminated against in employment or licensing.

Although a conviction does not occur, the records of the Court proceeding still are available to the public and will appear on a background check. Many employers do not understand this is not a criminal conviction and will treat you as though you are a convicted drug abuser, even though the law clearly states this should not be the case; see 1000 PC et seq. This is a problem with the Diversion law, and was corrected by Penal Code § 851.90 allowing the sealing of the diversion case records as well the police records when the court finds it would be in the interests of justice to do so.

We can seal your drug diversion case records under most circumstances. The law is complex, but sealing should be done by everyone with even a minor drug record. Please be aware many Judges and Prosecutors are not familiar with this part of the law (PC 891.90) and will tell you a diversion case "won't show up" in your background. This is incorrect. A petition to seal those records must be filed and granted, or your court case remains a public record, visible to all, and appearing in background checks.

All legal work is done by an Attorney with 25 + criminal law experience and more than 4000 successful expungement cases.

Both misdemeanor and felony records can sealed. We have successfully sealed a large number of drug diversion records all over California. The procedure can take from 6-12 weeks, depending upon the Court, the complexity of the case, and how old the conviction is.

Our fee is $1200.00 and includes the motion for sealing, service of process, court appearances, filing fees, and research. You will not need to appear in Court.

Please be aware that while all cases cannot be sealed, most can be; there are some limitations on the relief a sealing can grant in certain circumstances.

Please give us a call to discuss your case and the specific facts of your matter; consultation is free. 800 495-2819.


Penal Code § 1000

(a) This chapter shall apply whenever a case is before any court upon an accusatory pleading for a violation of Section 11350, 11357, 11364, 11365, 11377, or 11550 of the Health and Safety Code, or subdivision (b) of Section 23222 of the Vehicle Code, or Section 11358 of the Health and Safety Code if the marijuana planted, cultivated, harvested, dried, or processed is for personal use, or Section 11368 of the Health and Safety Code if the narcotic drug was secured by a fictitious prescription and is for the personal use of the defendant and was not sold or furnished to another, or subdivision (d) of Section 653f if the solicitation was for acts directed to personal use only, or Section 381 or subdivision (f) of Section 647 of the Penal Code, if for being under the influence of a controlled substance, or Section 4060 of the Business and Professions Code, and it appears to the prosecuting attorney that, except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 11357 of the Health and Safety Code, all of the following apply to the defendant: (1) The defendant has no conviction for any offense involving controlled substances prior to the alleged commission of the charged offense. (2) The offense charged did not involve a crime of violence or threatened violence. (3) There is no evidence of a violation relating to narcotics or restricted dangerous drugs other than a violation of the sections listed in this subdivision. (4) The defendant's record does not indicate that probation or parole has ever been revoked without thereafter being completed. (5) The defendant's record does not indicate that he or she has successfully completed or been terminated from diversion or deferred entry of judgment pursuant to this chapter within five years prior to the alleged commission of the charged offense. (6) The defendant has no prior felony conviction within five years prior to the alleged commission of the charged offense.

(b) The prosecuting attorney shall review his or her file to determine whether or not paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (a) apply to the defendant. Upon the agreement of the prosecuting attorney, law enforcement, the public defender, and the presiding judge of the criminal division of the superior court, or a judge designated by the presiding judge, this procedure shall be completed as soon as possible after the initial filing of the charges. If the defendant is found eligible, the prosecuting attorney shall file with the court a declaration in writing or state for the record the grounds upon which the determination is based and shall make this information available to the defendant and his or her attorney. This procedure is intended to allow the court to set the hearing for deferred entry of judgment at the arraignment. If the defendant is found ineligible for deferred entry of judgment, the prosecuting attorney shall file with the court a declaration in writing or state for the record the grounds upon which the determination is based and shall make this information available to the defendant and his or her attorney. The sole remedy of a defendant who is found ineligible for deferred entry of judgment is a post-conviction appeal.

(c) All referrals for deferred entry of judgment granted by the court pursuant to this chapter shall be made only to programs that have been certified by the county drug program administrator pursuant to Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 1211) of Title 8, or to programs that provide services at no cost to the participant and have been deemed by the court and the county drug program administrator to be credible and effective. The defendant may request to be referred to a program in any county, as long as that program meets the criteria set forth in this subdivision.

(d) Deferred entry of judgment for a violation of Section 11368 of the Health and Safety Code shall not prohibit any administrative agency from taking disciplinary action against a licensee or from denying a license. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to expand or restrict the provisions of Section 1000.4.

(e) Any defendant who is participating in a program referred to in this section may be required to undergo analysis of his or her urine for the purpose of testing for the presence of any drug as part of the program. However, urine analysis results shall not be admissible as a basis for any new criminal prosecution or proceeding.

Penal Code § 1000.4

(a)Any record filed with the Department of Justice shall indicate the disposition in those cases deferred pursuant to this chapter. Upon successful completion of a deferred entry of judgment program, the arrest upon which the judgment was deferred shall be deemed to have never occurred. The defendant may indicate in response to any question concerning his or her prior criminal record that he or she was not arrested or granted deferred entry of judgment for the offense, except as specified in subdivision (b).A record pertaining to an arrest resulting in successful completion of a deferred entry of judgment program shall not, without the defendant's consent, be used in any way that could result in the denial of any employment, benefit, license, or certificate.

(b)The defendant shall be advised that, regardless of his or her successful completion of the deferred entry of judgment program, the arrest upon which the judgment was deferred may be disclosed by the Department of Justice in response to any peace officer application request and that, notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not relieve him or her of the obligation to disclose the arrest in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for a position as a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.

Penal Code § 851.90

(a)(1)Whenever a person is diverted pursuant to a drug diversion program administered by a superior court pursuant to Section 1000.5 or is admitted to a deferred entry of judgment program pursuant to Section 1000, the person successfully completes the program, and it appears to the judge presiding at the hearing where the diverted charges are dismissed that the interests of justice would be served by sealing the records of the arresting agency and related court files and records with respect to the diverted person,the judge may order those records and files to be sealed, including any record of arrest or detention, upon the written or oral motion of any party in the case, or upon the court's own motion, and with notice to all parties in the case.

(2)If the order is made, the clerk of the court shall thereafter not allow access to any records concerning the case, including the court file, index, register of actions, or other similar records.

(3)If the order is made, the court shall give a copy of the order to the defendant and inform the defendant that he or she may thereafter state that he or she was not arrested for the charge.

(4)The defendant may, except as specified in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), indicate in response to any question concerning the defendant's prior criminal record that the defendant was not arrested or granted statutorily authorized drug diversion or deferred entry of judgment for the offense.

(5)Subject to subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), a record pertaining to an arrest resulting in the successful completion of a statutorily authorized drug diversion or deferred entry of judgment program shall not, without the defendant's permission, be used in any way that could result in the denial of any employment, benefit, or certificate.

(6)Sealing orders made pursuant to this subdivision shall not be forwarded to the Department of Justice to be included or notated in the department's manual or electronic fingerprint image or criminal history record systems. Any sealing order made pursuant to this subdivision and received by the Department of Justice need not be processed by the department.

(b)The defendant shall be advised that, regardless of the defendant's successful completion of a statutorily authorized drug diversion or deferred entry of judgment program, the arrest upon which the case was based shall be disclosed by the Department of Justice in response to any peace officer application request, and that, notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not relieve the defendant of the obligation to disclose the arrest in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for a position as a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.

(c)The defendant shall be advised that, regardless of the defendant's successful completion of a statutorily authorized drug diversion or deferred entry of judgment program, the arrest upon which the case was based shall be disclosed by the Department of Justice or the court in which the matter was heard in response to any subsequent inquiry by the district attorney, court, probation department, or counsel for the defendant concerning the defendant's eligibility for any statutorily authorized drug diversion or deferred entry of judgment program in the future.

(d)A sealing order made pursuant to this section shall not apply to any record or document received or maintained by the Department of Justice; the court shall advise a defendant that, notwithstanding the issuance of a sealing order pursuant to this section, the Department of Justice shall continue to be able to maintain and disseminate any records or documents received or maintained by the department, as authorized by law.

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