Criminal Record Expungement

Helping You Clear Your Criminal Record in Michigan

A criminal record can hamper your success in life. A criminal conviction is generally a public record which can be accessed by anyone, including prospective employers, landlords, banks, schools and even neighbors. If you are being haunted by a misdemeanor criminal conviction, a juvenile crime, a drug possession charge and certain other crimes, you may be eligible to clear your record through the process of expungement.

Michigan lawmakers have realized the unfairness of continuing to punish certain individuals for youthful indiscretions or past mistakes when these individuals have gone on to lead law-abiding lives and pose no danger to the public. In certain situations, past criminal convictions can be set aside or expunged, relieving people of the burdens of living with criminal records for the rest of their lives.

Have you found it difficult to find a job, rent a house or obtain a loan because of your criminal past? Would you like to have a conviction removed from your criminal record?

To discuss the possibility of clearing your record through expungement, call Stearns & Coppins, PLLC at 800-452-1761 or schedule your free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.

Eligibility for Expungement of Your Criminal Conviction in Michigan

Not everyone is eligible to have his criminal conviction set aside. Very specific criteria must be met before you are eligible to file an application for expungement:

• Five-year time limit: A request to have a conviction set aside can only be made five years after sentencing or five years after you have completed any jail or prison term, whichever is later. MCL 780.621(3)
  
• Behavior since conviction and nature of the crime: When considering whether to set aside a criminal conviction, the court will look at the circumstances and behavior of the person requesting expungement since the conviction and weigh that against the public welfare.
  
• Number of convictions: Anyone who has been convicted of more than one offense cannot obtain expungement. Multiple convictions, whether felony or misdemeanor, will disqualify you from having your record cleared.
  
• Nature of the offense: Certain crimes are not subject to expungement, such as: traffic offenses, crimes which are punishable by lifetime imprisonment (whether or not you were sentenced to life), crimes which resulted in a sentence of lifetime probation and certain criminal sexual assault offenses.

If you have questions about whether your conviction may be expunged, or you want help with the process of clearing your record through expungement, we can help. To meet with a lawyer regarding the specifics of your arrest or conviction, contact the firm for a free initial consultation.