San Luis Obispo County to host 5th free Clean Slate Clinic

By Atascadero News · Mon Mar 02 2026

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office is partnering with local agencies to host the fifth annual free Clean Slate Clinic on Friday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SLO County Law Library, 1050 Monterey Street #125.

The clinic assists eligible residents with criminal record expungement, felony reduction, and arrest record sealing, helping remove barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. Appointments are strongly encouraged at (805) 902-CRLA or reentry@crla.org, though walk-ins are welcome.

Partner organizations include the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department, San Luis Obispo Defenders, Restorative Partners, California Rural Legal Assistance, People’s Justice Project, and San Luis Obispo College of Law.

District Attorney Dan Dow emphasized the importance of expungement in reducing recidivism and improving access to stable employment and housing.

“Criminal records can make it very difficult for people to get jobs and housing after incarceration,” said Dan Dow, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney. “We are proud to work with our community partners to help with the time-consuming and paperwork-intensive process of expunging criminal records and helping folks get on track to leading productive and engaged lives. The added stability that comes from obtaining employment and housing helps reduce rates of recidivism which improves the overall quality of life in our community.”

Public Defender Steve Rice added that the clinic promotes equal justice and second chances.

“The vital expungement services we will help provide at our March 6, 2026, SLO Clean Slate Clinic will not only facilitate reentry for individuals with a criminal arrest or conviction but also improve access to equal justice for all,” said Steve Rice, the Primary Public Defender for San Luis Obispo County. “A criminal record can be a barrier to success and stability in life,” he said. “We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and this clinic will give individuals the opportunity to start fresh.”

Criminal record expungement allows individuals to legally answer “No” to conviction questions on most job applications and can improve eligibility for state professional licenses. The California Policy Lab estimates that nearly 1 in 8 Californians with a criminal record may be eligible for full expungement.