Petition for Dismissal

Attorney bar number; pro se filers leave blank.

• Pro se filer fills with driver's license number.
• Out-of-state attorney fills home-state bar number.

Filer name; the petitioner is the defendant in the underlying case.

• Petitioner uses a current legal name when the docket name differs.
• Pro se filer types attorney name.

Firm name; pro se filers leave blank.

• Pro se filer fills with employer.
• Filer types 'Self' or 'N/A'.

Filer street address.

• Filer uses an address where they cannot receive mail.
• Filer uses a P.O. Box that does not match DMV address on file.

Filer city.

• Filer abbreviates ('SF' instead of 'San Francisco').
• Filer types neighborhood.

Filer state.

• Filer leaves blank for in-state CA.
• Filer types full state name in a small field.

Filer ZIP.

• Filer leaves blank.
• Filer enters ZIP+4 with no separator.

Filer phone.

• Filer leaves blank for privacy.
• Filer lists a number disconnected since the underlying conviction.

Filer fax. Effectively obsolete.

• Filer types 'N/A'.
• Pro se filer fills phone number for fax.

Filer email. Optional.

• Filer lists a stale email no longer monitored.
• Filer omits and clerk has no fast way to send the conformed copy.

'Attorney for' caption. Pro se filers type 'Self-Represented' or 'Defendant in pro per'.

• Pro se petitioner leaves blank.
• Pro se petitioner types 'N/A'.

Court county (the court that originally entered the conviction).

• Filing in the petitioner's current county of residence rather than the conviction court.
• Filer types county of arrest when conviction venue was different.

Court street address.

• Filer copies a closed-courthouse address from older paperwork.
• Filer mixes up a traffic court with the criminal courthouse.

Court mailing address.

• Filer duplicates the street address when the courthouse uses a separate P.O. Box.
• Filer leaves blank where mail goes to a separate P.O. Box.

Court city and ZIP.

• Filer omits the ZIP.
• Filer types the wrong ZIP for a courthouse with multiple ZIPs.

Defendant (petitioner) name. Match the original criminal docket; if your name has changed since the conviction, the docket name is what controls.

• Using the petitioner's current legal name when it differs from the docket. The docket name is what controls.
• Filer types the proposed clean-record name.

Case number from the original criminal case. On sentencing minutes, the docket, the original criminal complaint, or via court records request.

• Leaving blank because the case is old. The clerk needs the original case number to locate the file.
• Filer types the booking number rather than the docket number.

Item 1: date of conviction (or grant of deferred entry of judgment). Use the date on the docket.

• Using the date of arrest or the date of the offense rather than the conviction date.
• Filer uses the date probation ended; item 1 wants the conviction date.

Item 1 row 1: code book of the offense (Penal, Vehicle, H&S, etc.). Required for the first row.

• Filer types 'CA' or 'state'; the field expects the code book name.
• Filer types code section number here.

Item 1 row 1: section number.

• Filer omits subsection like '(a)' which can change the offense.
• Filer types only the section number when the conviction was for a specific subdivision.

Item 1 row 1: level at conviction (felony / misdemeanor / infraction).

• Filer puts the original charge level rather than the level at conviction (e.g., wobbler charged as felony but resolved as misdemeanor).
• Filer types 'F' or 'M'; spell out level.

Item 1 row 1: 17(b) reduction yes/no. PC 17(b) lets a 'wobbler' felony be reduced to a misdemeanor where the original sentence did not include state prison.

• Marking 'yes' for a non-wobbler (a straight felony like robbery).
• Filer marks 'yes' but the original sentence included state prison; PC 17(b) excludes prison cases.

Item 1 row 1: 17(d)(2) reduction yes/no. PC 17(d)(2) lets a 'wobblette' misdemeanor be reduced to an infraction. Most misdemeanors are NOT 17(d)(2) eligible.

• Filer marks 'yes' for a misdemeanor that is not a 'wobblette'.
• Filer marks 'yes' on a felony; 17(d)(2) is misdemeanor-to-infraction only.

Item 1 row 2: optional second offense code.

• Filer leaves row 2 partially filled (code only, no section).
• Filer fills row 2 to list a count from the same offense; one row per conviction count.

Item 1 row 2: optional section.

• Filer omits subsection.
• Filer leaves blank when row 2 code is filled.

Item 1 row 2: optional type.

• Filer leaves blank when row 2 code is filled.
• Filer puts original charge level rather than conviction level.

Item 1 row 2: 17(b) yes/no.

• Filer leaves blank when row 2 is a felony wobbler.
• Filer marks 'yes' for a non-wobbler.

Item 1 row 2: 17(d)(2) yes/no.

• Filer leaves blank when row 2 is a misdemeanor wobblette.
• Filer marks 'yes' for a felony.

Item 1 row 3: optional offense code.

• Filer leaves row 3 partially filled.
• Filer adds a third row when only two convictions are at issue.

Item 1 row 3: optional section.

• Filer omits subsection.
• Filer leaves blank when row 3 code is filled.

Item 1 row 3: optional type.

• Filer puts original charge level rather than conviction level.
• Filer leaves blank when row 3 code is filled.

Item 1 row 3: 17(b) yes/no.

• Filer leaves blank when row 3 is a felony wobbler.
• Filer marks 'yes' for a non-wobbler.

Item 1 row 3: 17(d)(2) yes/no.

• Filer leaves blank when row 3 is a misdemeanor wobblette.
• Filer marks 'yes' for a felony.

Item 1 row 4: optional offense code.

• Filer leaves row 4 partially filled.
• Filer adds rows for related conduct that was a single conviction.

Item 1 row 4: optional section.

• Filer omits subsection.
• Filer leaves blank when row 4 code is filled.

Item 1 row 4: optional type.

• Filer puts original charge level rather than conviction level.
• Filer leaves blank when row 4 code is filled.

Item 1 row 4: 17(b) yes/no.

• Filer marks 'yes' for a non-wobbler.
• Filer leaves blank when row 4 is a felony wobbler.

Item 1 row 4: 17(d)(2) yes/no.

• Filer leaves blank when row 4 is a misdemeanor wobblette.
• Filer marks 'yes' for a felony.

Item 1 row 5: optional offense code (more rows than 5 use MC-025).

• Filer fills row 5 without using MC-025 for additional rows.
• Filer leaves row 5 partially filled.

Item 1 row 5: optional section.

• Filer omits subsection.
• Filer leaves blank when row 5 code is filled.

Item 1 row 5: optional type.

• Filer puts original charge level rather than conviction level.
• Filer leaves blank when row 5 code is filled.

Item 1 row 5: 17(b) yes/no.

• Filer marks 'yes' for a non-wobbler.
• Filer leaves blank when row 5 is a felony wobbler.

Item 1 row 5: 17(d)(2) yes/no.

• Filer leaves blank when row 5 is a misdemeanor wobblette.
• Filer marks 'yes' for a felony.

Item 2 main checkbox: PC 1203.4 (felony or misdemeanor with probation). Most common path.

• Filer checks item 2 for a no-probation case; PC 1203.4 requires probation.
• Filer skips item 2 for a probation case but checks item 5; mismatched paths.

Item 2a: fulfilled probation conditions for the entire period.

• Filer checks 2a but had a probation violation, which makes 2c the right basis.
• Filer checks 2a along with 2b and 2c; pick the strongest one.

Item 2b: discharged from probation early.

• Filer checks 2b without an early-termination order in the file.
• Filer confuses 2b (early discharge) with 2a (full term).

Item 2c: should be granted relief in interests of justice. Discretionary basis when 2a and 2b do not apply.

• Filer checks 2c as a generic catch-all without explaining in the text field.
• Filer relies on 2c when 2a or 2b clearly fits.

Item 2c free-text: explanation for the interest-of-justice basis.

• Filer leaves blank after checking 2c.
• Filer writes a one-sentence summary; courts want a real explanation.

Item 3 main: PC 1203.4a (misdemeanor or infraction without probation). Requires more than one year since judgment.

• Checking item 3 along with item 2; they are mutually exclusive.
• Filer checks item 3 within the first year after judgment; PC 1203.4a needs at least one year.

Item 3a: lived an honest and upright life since judgment.

• Filer checks 3a despite an arrest or new charge in the intervening period.
• Filer treats 3a as automatic; the standard requires no new convictions.

Item 3b: should be granted relief in interests of justice (discretionary).

• Filer leaves blank when 3a does not fit.
• Filer checks 3b without a written explanation.

Item 3b free-text: explanation.

• Filer leaves blank after checking 3b.
• Filer writes a generic 'I deserve relief' rather than concrete facts.

Item 4 main: PC 1203.49 (PC 647(b) misdemeanor result of human-trafficking victim status).

• Filer checks item 4 for a non-PC 647(b) conviction; PC 1203.49 only covers solicitation/prostitution convictions related to trafficking.
• Filer skips item 4 for an eligible 647(b) case and uses item 2 instead, which can lose the trafficking-victim relief.

Item 4 free-text: evidence of trafficking-victim status.

• Filer leaves blank after checking item 4.
• Filer writes general background rather than evidence of trafficking-victim status.

Item 5 main: PC 1203.41 (felony county jail or felony state prison).

• Using item 5 for a sex-offender-registration-required conviction; PC 1203.41(a)(1)(C) excludes those.
• Filer checks item 5 within the eligibility wait period.

Item 5 sub-radio: pick 5a (more than 1 year, with mandatory supervision), 5b (more than 2 years, no mandatory supervision), or 5c (more than 2 years since prison).

• Filer checks more than one of 5a/5b/5c.
• Filer picks 5a (mandatory supervision) for a no-supervision sentence.

Item 5 free-text: interest-of-justice explanation.

• Filer leaves blank after checking item 5.
• Filer writes a one-sentence summary rather than a detailed showing.

Item 6 main: PC 1203.42 (pre-2011 felony prison sentence that would have been jail-eligible after realignment).

• Filer checks item 6 for a post-2011 prison sentence; PC 1203.42 covers pre-2011 only.
• Filer checks item 6 alongside item 5; they are mutually exclusive.

Item 6 free-text: interest-of-justice explanation.

• Filer leaves blank after checking item 6.
• Filer writes a generic statement rather than concrete facts.

Item 7 main: PC 1203.43 (deferred entry of judgment, former PC 1000.3).

• Filer checks item 7 for a regular probation case; 1203.43 is only for former PC 1000.3 deferred entry.
• Filer confuses 1203.43 (DEJ) with PC 1000 diversion under current rules.

Item 7: date charges were dismissed under former PC 1000.3.

• Filer leaves blank after checking item 7.
• Filer types the conviction date instead of the dismissal date.

Item 7 a/b radio: 7a if attaching court records; 7b if declaring under penalty of perjury.

• Filer leaves both 7a and 7b blank.
• Filer checks both 7a and 7b.

Item 7b sub-radio: has / has not attached state summary criminal history (DOJ RAP sheet).

• Filer leaves blank after checking 7b.
• Filer checks 'has not attached' but offers no other proof of dismissal.

Date the petitioner signs the form.

• Filer dates the form before completing the petition.
• Filer leaves blank, intending to sign at the courthouse counter.

Petitioner's typed name on the signature line. Wet signature added after printing.

• Filer signs above the line but never types their name.
• Filer types attorney's name when filer is pro se.