In 2020, Michigan passed a series of “clean slate laws” that expand a person’s eligibility to have their criminal record expunged. Michigan’s clean slate law is the most expansive in the country and allows people to set aside up to two felony and four misdemeanor convictions. The law also expanded the number and type of crimes that are eligible for expungement.
The passage of the new law has generated many questions, like what exactly is an expungement, what crimes are eligible for expungement, and how does the process work?
Michigan’s expungement statute refers to “setting aside” a conviction; however, the legal process of seeking a set aside is called expungement.
Expungement shields a criminal conviction from public view during a criminal background check. Once your criminal record has been expunged, you can truthfully answer, in all but a few circumstances, that you do not have a criminal record.
Under Michigan’s new clean slate laws, people who have been convicted of up to two felonies and four misdemeanors will automatically have their criminal record expunged. Misdemeanors will be expunged seven years after sentencing, while felonies will be expunged ten years after sentencing or the date a person is released from prison, whichever is later.
Certain crimes are not eligible for expungement, including:
You are not eligible to apply for an expungement if:
While Michigan’s clean slate law takes effect on April 11, 2021, courts and law enforcement agencies were granted two years to secure funding and coordinate plans to allow for the automatic set aside of some offenses. This means that the automatic set asides will begin in April of 2023, at the earliest.
A criminal record includes more than just court documents and information about convictions. It also includes arrest records, even if the criminal charges were eventually dismissed.
A criminal background check can be used for many different purposes. A background check is often requested by potential employers when you apply for a job, by landlords when you rent an apartment, and as part of an application for college or trade school. A criminal record can make it more difficult to get hired, find an apartment, or be accepted into the school of your choice. By having your criminal record expunged, no one other than law enforcement can see your record. This makes it easier to put your criminal record behind you and move forward with your future.
Elmen Legal can review your criminal record to determine whether you are eligible for expungement and help you with the expungement process.
You can handle your own expungement; however, expungement is a complicated process, and working with an experienced criminal defense attorney will improve the likelihood of a successful result.
When you hire Elmen Legal to handle your criminal record expungement, I will review your criminal record to ensure you are eligible. Then, I will guide you through the process, file the appropriate documents, and represent you in any court proceedings.
At Elmen Legal, I am proud to help my clients with any criminal law need. I have dedicated my career to representing people who have been charged with a crime and to helping them to get back on their feet.
Learn more about the services I offer, read reviews from other people I’ve helped, and get answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Then call (734) 707-8915 or contact me today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss how I can help.
Elmen Legal proudly represents people in Ann Arbor, Saline, Pittsfield Township, Chelsea, or Ypsilanti, in Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Ingham, Livingston, and Oakland Counties.
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