In 2016, Washington enacted the Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (CROP) statute that allows state courts to grants individuals with convictions a Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (CROP). Having a conviction on your record can harm you in many different ways, such as adverse employment decisions and adverse decisions related to housing. A conviction on your record can be especially harmful if your chosen profession requires a professional license. In some cases, certain types of convictions may even bar you from becoming licensed altogether, rather than merely delaying the process. However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel!
A CROP is very helpful because it helps to alleviate many of the negative consequences mentioned above. For instance, many employers and landlords are reluctant to rent to persons with felonies on their record as it may open them up to civil liability. Obtaining a CROP can help reduce or even almost eliminate that risk because your having one protects both employers from suits for negligent hiring and landlords from suits for negligent renting. A CROP can also help eliminate the barriers a person with a conviction has in obtaining a professional license. By obtaining a CROP, state licensing agencies are prohibited from denying you a professional license on the sole basis of your criminal history. The Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer and RestoreYourRecord devote a substantial amount of our practice to helping those convicted of crimes restore their record and remove the barriers created by a conviction.
| CROP | Vacate | |
| Class A Felony | NOT ELIGIBLE | NOT ELIGIBLE |
| Class B Felony | Confinement: 2 years from release Probation:2 years from sentencing | 10 years from date of completed conditions |
| Class C Felony | Confinement: 2 years from release Probation:2 years from sentencing | 5 years from date of completed conditions |
| Misdemeanor and Gross Misdemeanors | Confinement: 18 months from release probation: 1 year from sentencing | 3 years from date of completed conditions |
Additionally, you can also obtain one of these if you are under the age of 18 and regardless of whether your convictions are for juvenile or adult offenses.
The Process for obtaining a CROP requires the following steps:
- We will file a petition with the Superior Court on your behalf;
- We appear on your behalf at the hearing and we request that the Judge sign the CROP;
- Once signed, the Superior Court’s Clerk will sent the CROP to the Washington State Patrol, which is the state repository for all conviction-related matters;
- Once the Washington State Patrol receives the CROP, they will notate it in your file.
From then on, anytime an entity, employer, individual, landlord, or licensing agency runs a criminal background check on you, the CROP will show up in your background check.
- You must not have any sex offense convictions;
- You must not have any Class A Felonies;
- You must not have been convicted of a crime with a special allegation of sexual motivation;
- You must have completed all terms of your conviction;
- No new arrests, convictions, or pending charges since completion of your sentence.