Legal service
Office of the Public Defender
The Office of Diversion and Reentry Services and the Office of the Public Defender have collaborated to create the Reentry Expungement Program providing free record clearance services. We seek expungements under Penal Code 1203.4, 1203.41, and 1203.42 as well as reductions under Penal Code 17(b) and (d), Proposition 47, and Proposition 64. We also work with the court to wipe out outstanding fines and fees with the Department of Tax and Collections. The PDO will also provide 290 registration relief representation for clients eligible to be removed from the Penal Code section 290 registry.
Eligibility and referral process
To qualify, clients must be financially eligible for the Public Defender's services, have prior convictions in Santa Clara County and have no pending cases, no active warrants, and not be on probation or parole. Once the intake process is complete, the PDO will review all clients' entire criminal history in Santa Clara County and petition the Court for all available types of relief.
Contacts
- 151 W. Mission St
San Jose, CA 95110 - Phone: (408) 535-4290
- Email: [email protected]
Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley
Pro Bono Project provides legal information, advice, limited scope representation and/or informational workshops related to family and civil law matters which address barriers to reentry clients.
Eligibility and referral process
Clients must be recently released or incarcerated at a County Correctional Facility. If recently released, client needs to visit the Reentry Center in person and register for a Pro Bono Project referral.
Contacts
- 25 N 14th Street, Suite 506
San Jose, CA 95112 - Phone: (408) 998-5298, ext. 7
Dependency Advocacy Center
Provides legal and case management services to ensure children of arrested or incarcerated parents are healthy and living in safe and nurturing families. To ensure arrested or incarcerated parents have access to resources that strengthen their capacity to raise healthy, thriving children. To increase family reunification, minimize involvement in multiple systems (criminal justice, child welfare) and to prevent recidivism. The Case Management Team is comprised of an Attorney, a Social Worker, a Mentor Parent, and a Case Coordinator.
Eligibility and referral process
Population served:
- Parents or expecting parents, involved in SCC's criminal justice system with children either involved in or at risk of penetrating the child welfare system.
- Probation Officer must make the referral
Contacts
- Dependency Advocacy Center
31 N. 2nd Street, Suite 300
San Jose, CA 95113