Reducing a Felony to a Misdemeanor P.C. 17(b)
Also, reducing a felony to a misdemeanor after probation is terminated may be critical to obtaining employment. Most employers don’t want convicted felons working for them. Convicted felons may present insurance liability issues and bad publicity. Most potential employers aren’t going to ask you your side of the story about a felony terrorist threat in an employment interview…because you probably won’t get the interview. Having it reduced to a misdemeanor and subsequently expunged avoids missed opportunities and awkward conversations.
Don’t try to get your felony reduced to a misdemeanor by yourself. If the judge denies your request per P.C. 17(b) then you’ll most likely have to wait a long while before you can raise the request again. When I file a 17(b) request, I anticipate opposition. Often times a prosecutor will file a “Motion in Opposition to 1203.2/17(b).” You have to be prepared to competently and articulately respond to this opposition.
