The 2026 Second Chance Index
How California ranks for second chances
California ranks 10th of 51 in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 77 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 15.5 points above the median state (61.5).
Built from California's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
77 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 46 / 50
- Voting rights
- 22 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 9 / 20
Every point California earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about California, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
46 of 50 points| What we score | California | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Some records clear automatically | 15/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | Yes | 12/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | None found | 0/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | Yes | 3/3 |
Voting rights
22 of 30 points| What we score | California | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | After prison | 22/30 |
Where the felony line falls
9 of 20 points| What we score | California | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | More than $950 | 2/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | From the 4th offense | 7/10 |
Where the 23 missing points are
- 8When the vote comes back after a felony: After prison
- 8Theft becomes a felony at: More than $950
- 4A fee waiver on at least one route: None found
- 3Repeat DUI becomes a felony: From the 4th offense
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean California offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near California
- #8D.C.79.5
- #9Rhode Island77.5
- #10California77
- #11Michigan76.5
- #12New York76
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How California ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/california, checked October 29, 2026.