If you have
a criminal record, the first step is cleaning it up through the courts
and
getting the updated information to the California and federal
bureaus of investigation.
Court
records are not always updated correctly. For example, a
signature that was needed to reduce the charges might not
have been obtained or recorded by the court.
The only way to ensure
that the conviction was, in fact, expunged or dismissed is to either obtain
a certified copy of your report from the court or obtain your criminal
history from the relevant bureau of investigation.
Anyone
with an internet connection can easily obtain information about
your criminal past. See
sample.