Section 4852.03.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 4852.03.
in effect(a)
The period of rehabilitation commences upon the discharge of the petitioner from custody due to his or her completion of the term to which he or she was sentenced or upon his or her release on parole, postrelease community supervision, mandatory supervision, or probation, whichever is sooner. For purposes of this chapter, the period of rehabilitation shall constitute five years’ residence in this state, plus a period of time determined by the following rules:
(1)
An additional four years in the case of a person convicted of violating Section 187, 209, 219, 4500, or 18755 of this code, or subdivision (a) of Section 1672 of the Military and Veterans Code, or of
committing any other offense which carries a life sentence.
(2)
(A)
An additional five years in the case of a person convicted of committing an offense or attempted offense for which sex offender registration is required pursuant to Sections 290 to 290.024, inclusive.
(B)
A certificate of rehabilitation issued on or after July 1, 2021, does not relieve a person of the obligation to register as a sex offender unless the person obtains relief granted under Section 290.5.
(3)
An additional two years in the case of a person
convicted of committing an offense that is not listed in paragraph (1) or (2) and that does not carry a life sentence.
(4)
The trial court hearing the application for the certificate of rehabilitation may, if the defendant was ordered to serve consecutive sentences, order that the statutory period of rehabilitation be extended for an additional period of time which when combined with the time already served will not exceed the period prescribed by statute for the sum of the maximum penalties for all the crimes.
(b)
Unless and until the period of rehabilitation required by subdivision (a) has passed, the petitioner shall be ineligible to file his or her petition for a certificate of rehabilitation with the court. A certificate of rehabilitation that is issued and under which the petitioner
has not fulfilled the requirements of this chapter shall be void.
(c)
A change of residence within this state does not interrupt the period of rehabilitation prescribed by this section.
(d)
This section shall become operative on July 1, 2021.
References
referencesCal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 1672.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 187.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 290.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 290.5.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026