In 2020, after years of lobbying by criminal defense attorneys like Dan, Michigan passed a series of “clean-slate” initiatives which expanded the eligibility for people to seek expungement of their criminal convictions, and in many cases, shortened the waiting period to apply. Gov. New Michigan Law Expands Criminal Records Expungement Loaded on Jan. 15, 2021 by Casey Bastian published in Criminal Legal News February, 2021 , page 42 Filed under: Restrictions, discrimination , Prior Convictions - Expungement or Reversal of . Effective April 11, 2021, the automatic expungement requirement will not begin until two years after the effective date of the law. Detroit residents can seek help now from Project Clean Slate, a free city program. Felonies will be cleared 10 years after sentencing or the person's release from incarceration, whichever comes last. New laws that take effect this spring will expand the number and types of convictions that qualify for expungement. HB 5679 is a new Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA), and it amends several sections of the Michigan SORA law that has been in-effect previously.This new SORA law … Angie Jackson covers the challenges of formerly incarcerated citizens as a corps member with Report for America. A Look at Michigan’s New Expungement Laws On October 12, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the “Clean Slate” Bills into law, reforming Michigan’s criminal expungement process. In many cases, those with two to … Misdemeanors will be expunged seven years after sentencing. Other programs to assist with expungement are expected to roll out later this year. Expungement seals criminal convictions from the general public, including employers and landlords. (CBS DETROIT) – Michigan’s new expungement law takes effect on Sunday. What is the law in the State of Michigan on expungements? These laws apply to the petition process, which is when someone asks the court for an expungement and the decision is made by a judge. The program walks people through each step of the expungement process, from the application to the court hearing. This past week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer approved House Bill 5679 of 2020 and signed it into law. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — April brings big changes to Michigan’s criminal justice system, as new expungement laws take effect. Law enforcement, courts and agencies such as the Michigan Department of Corrections retain access to expunged records. Expungement fairs provide resources for Michigan residents navigating new clean slate laws Money raised for 3 Genesee County mother’s bail through ‘Black Mama’s Bailout’ program New expungement laws that take effect Sunday, April 11, offer hope to Earley and others across Michigan. Michigan is also working to establish a system to automatically expunge eligible felonies and misdemeanors after certain periods of time, but that still has some time before becoming active. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work. Michigan’s Clean Slate Law Effective April 11, 2021 The state of Michigan recently passed a “Clean Slate” law. The state House approved the two … The new law takes effect on April 11. People who live in other areas of the state should stay tuned. The new expungement laws are being phased in over time. Michigan’s New Expungement Laws Offer Second Chance By Bria Brown April 26, 2021 at 10:15 am Filed Under: attorney general , Dana Nessel , expungement , law , Michigan On June 2, 2021, Genesee County will have a front row seat to witness stigmas of the past wiped away and new chapters of life beginning.” Michigan’s new expungement law … Here are a few of the changes: Expungement is no longer restricted to people with one felony over a lifetime. Applications to expunge "misdemeanor marijuana convictions" can be filed beginning April 11, 2021. City residents are encouraged to enroll online so that staff can start to prepare their cases. Up to two felonies and four misdemeanors will be automatically cleared. Answer: The new law expands eligibility to petition for an expungement in several ways, and creates a new process that will automatically seal certain non-violent conviction records if a person has remained conviction-free for a period of time (seven years for misdemeanors, 10 years for felonies). Generally, the process involves ordering a certified record of convictions from the clerk of the court where the convictions occurred, getting fingerprinted, getting the application notarized, filing the application with the court and preparing for a hearing in front of a judge. Michigan is also creating a system to automatically expunge eligible felonies and misdemeanors after certain periods of time. People who want to be considered for expungement under the forthcoming changes should wait until April 11 to apply. The New Expungement Laws in Michigan. This will be done through an evaluation of their actions from the date of conviction until the date of the petition. READ MORE: DNR: Gypsy Moth Activity Expected Across Lower Michigan Eligible offenses include traffic violations, marijuana misdemeanors, and other types of felonies. To find out more about my firm and how I can help, give me a call at (248) 599-0054 today. Her work is supported by The GroundTruth Project and the Hudson-Webber Foundation. The new law will expand the number and types of convictions that qualify for expungement. LANSING, MI - Expungement for first-time drunk driving offenses is one step closer to becoming Michigan law. Background © 2021 www.freep.com. The legislation significantly expands eligibility for … Clean Slate for Michigan Implementation. New expungement law takes effect April 11, allowing former offenders a second chance Michigan’s loosened mask mandate takes effect Thursday Attorney General planning ‘expungement fair’ in Genesee County this summer Grand Blanc … The changes to expungement via the application process will take effect on April 11. All rights reserved. The new expungement laws will help those that may have committed a marijuana offense after December 6, 2018. A new “Clean Slate” law has been passed in Michigan that states that certain misdemeanor and felony conviction records in the state will be “set aside” or automatically expunged and will not require an application for expungement. An application form from the State Court Administrative Office lists step-by-step instructions. Attorney General April 12, 2021 In Detroit alone, the city estimates 86,000 additional residents will be eligible under the new legislation, bringing the total number of residents who qualify for expungement to 168,000. Michigan's New Expungement Laws Offer Second Chance More Julia Elkins and Adam Spence of Lansing, Mich., stand outside their new home with their daughter on April 23, 2021. I look forward to hearing from you. The new laws make set asides automatic for certain offenses; however, for some offenses, parties will need to apply for a set aside. More:How to get your criminal record sealed in Michigan. The bills will take effect April, 11, 2021. The form can be found online by searching Google for "application to set aside conviction MC 227 form.” For expungement under the laws taking effect this spring, the State Court Administrative Office is working on an updated application form that should be available on its website by mid-March. Felonies that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison, attempt to commit a felony for which the maximum punishment is life, felony domestic violence (if the person had a previous domestic violence misdemeanor), child abuse, most criminal sexual conduct offenses, DUIs, and traffic offenses causing injury or death. In the first part of last month we shared with you some details about Michigan’s new ‘Clean Slate Act’, and how it’s going to revolutionize expungement in the future. Mich. (WNDU) - Looking for a new start? In October 2020, Michigan passed the Clean Slate legislation, expanding the opportunities for expungement of certain felonies and misdemeanors, including a new, automatic expungement process. Five of the six bills will take effect on April 10, 2021 and the remaining bill, the one that automatically expunges convictions, will take effect on October 13, 2022. Screening Companies, Michigan’s Clean Slate Law Effective April 11, 2021, Fair Chance Hiring, Second Chance Hiring, Expungements, and Hiring People with Criminal Records, Suppliers & Providers to the Background Screening Industry, 2019-20 Suppliers to the Background Screening Industry Guide, International Background Screening Resource Center, U.S. Background Screening Resource Center, CONTINUOUS SCREENING RESOURCE CENTER OLDSCREEN, Annual Background Screening Resource Guide, Accreditation Resource Center & Background Screening Best Practices, Guide to Selecting a Background Screening Firm, Background Screening Periodical Media Kit, 2018 Employers Background Screening Survey, 2020-21 Suppliers to the Background Screening Industry Buyers Guide, Key Tips to Selecting a Courthouse Researcher, Guide CRAs to Select an Insurance Carrier, Accreditation Resource Center & Background, Employment Screening Advice for Employers, Guide for Selecting a Drug Screening Provider, In Search of Excellence in Background Screening, Key Tips for Selecting a Courthouse Researcher, Women Thrive in Leadership Roles in Background Screening Industry, 2019 Employers Background Screening Survey. The effective date of the law is April 11, 2021. Question: What does the new “Clean Slate” law do? Additionally, several organizations are looking into ways to provide legal support for people trying to seal their records. While these new laws take effect on April 11, 2021, court and law enforcement authorities were allowed two years to secure funding and coordinate plans to allow for automatic set aside of some offenses. Earley, 65, has been trying to start a private security guard agency, but his felony convictions are holding him back from the licenses he needs to start his business. Effective April 11, 2021, the automatic expungement requirement will not begin until two years after the effective date […] AG Nessel Announces Department Webpage Devoted to Informing the Public on New Expungement Laws Contact: Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-512-9342 Agency:. This bill had a two-year implementation period, meaning the earliest that automatic expungement will take effect is Dec. 30, 2022, according to Safe & Just Michigan. You can count on my honesty, my knowledge, and my discretion. There cannot be any new convictions during the waiting period. Under the new law certain misdemeanor and felony conviction records in the state will be “set aside” or automatically expunged and will not require an application for expugement. Big changes are ahead for people who want to get their criminal records sealed from public view in Michigan. This date is significant because this was when recreational marijuana use became legal in the state of Michigan for adults. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law last fall. A new “Clean Slate” law has been passed in Michigan that states that certain misdemeanor and felony conviction records in the state will be “set aside” or automatically expunged and will not require an application for expungement. Whitmer signs bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan, More:Detroit residents can apply now for help with expungement under new laws. As many as one million people with a record will be able to qualify for expungement. The Clean Slate Bill creates an automatic expungement system which will take effect on October 13 The key changes to expungement by application include: More:Gov. Here's a rundown of the changes that Gov. Those who submit an application before then risk being denied if they're not eligible before the new laws take effect, which would trigger a three-year waiting period to reapply, according to Safe & Just Michigan. Michigan Executive Office of the Governor As Michiganders say "good riddance" to 2020 and say "hello" to 2021, they will notice some new laws taking effect in … Published: Mar. Become a Free Press subscriber. The seven-bill package enjoyed broad bipartisan support in both the Michigan House and Senate. Starting April 11, new Michigan expungement laws go into effect. 30, 2021 at 2:56 PM PDT. Once a record is expunged, people applying for employment, housing and financial aid can truthfully state that the arrest and conviction never occurred. The changes to expungement via the application process will take effect on April 11. Follow her on Twitter: @AngieJackson23. Whitmer signs bills expanding criminal record expungement in Michigan, Detroit residents can apply now for help with expungement under new laws, How to get your criminal record sealed in Michigan, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Under the new law, certain convictions that have been automatically expunged can be reinstated; applicants who have had their convictions automatically expunged under the new law can state that they have not been previously convicted, except applicants with offenses related to the sex offenders registration act; and a conviction and any records related to the conviction that has been set aside under the law cannot be used as evidence in an action for negligent hiring. I can help you understand more about your options under Michigan’s new DUI expungement laws and can handle your application if you’re eligible. Michigan’s new expungement law maintains the typical process, where a person eligible to have an offense set aside must demonstrate to the court that issued the conviction that they deserve the expungement. Under the state’s older expungement rules — the new amendments largely go into effect April 11, 2021 — only about 6.5 percent of eligible ... according to the law. This legislation has made many marijuana-related misdemeanors and felonies eligible for expungement, either through application or automatic expungement. More people than ever will be able to set aside their Michigan criminal conviction with a change in Michigan's 2015 Expungement law. The Attorney General's Office says it is developing educational materials for navigating the new laws, but there's not yet a date for when those resources will be made available. The city of Detroit on Thursday encouraged people who may be eligible for expungement under the new law to reach out to its Project Clean Slate program. The following will not be eligible for automatic expungement: assaultive crimes, serious misdemeanors, "crimes of dishonesty" (such as forgery and counterfeiting), offenses punishable by 10 or more years in prison, and crimes that involve a minor, a vulnerable adult, human trafficking, injury or serious impairment, and death. Estimates range from hundreds of thousands to as many as 1 million people in Michigan. The changes to the numbers/types of convictions that can be set aside are going into effect on April 11, 2021. Contact Angie: ajackson@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Last fall, Governor … The expungement opens new doors to jobs, housing, education and can lower insurance rates. Questions may be sent to projectcleanslate@detroitmi.gov. How Michigan’s New ‘Clean Slate’ Expungement Laws Affect You John English | February 19, 2021 | Michigan Legislation | .