For help in determining whether a Michigan expungement is an option for you, contact an experienced criminal lawyer in Michigan at Davis Law Group today.
If you’ve ever been denied a job, professional license, or rental opportunity due to a past criminal activity, you know first-hand the pain a criminal record can cause. A criminal record can be a major setback, especially when renters, employers, or professional boards deny you an opportunity due to a past crime. But erasing a criminal record is possible in Michigan through a process known as expungement. By expunging your criminal record, and with the help of a skilled Detroit expungement lawyer, you may be able to get your criminal record erased, depending on the nature of your crime.
Erasing a Criminal Record in Michigan
Committing a crime can have long-lasting consequences, from immediate penalties, such as fines and incarceration, to lifelong prohibitions, such as difficulties applying for jobs, housing rentals, and professional licenses. In Michigan, employers, landlords, and professional boards may all ask to look into a person’s criminal record by requesting a background check. If your background check shows records of a past crime, you could be denied a meaningful personal or professional opportunity.
Expunging a Michigan criminal record can help you to overcome this barrier to advancement. With the help of a Michigan criminal defense attorney, you may be able to erase virtually all documents and computer files relating to your crime, including court documents relating to your conviction.
Who is Entitled to an Expungement?
Many crimes are eligible for expungement in Michigan. However certain factors, including the nature of the crime, any past or subsequent convictions, and the time since the offense, can influence whether or not an individual can apply for an expungement.
- Felony expungement — A person may be able to get a felony offense expunged if it has been 5 years since the date of his or her conviction, release from incarceration, or discharge from parole, and if he or she has been convicted of only 1 felony offense and no more than 2 misdemeanor offenses
- Misdemeanor expungement — An individual may be able to expunge 1 or 2 misdemeanor offenses, so long as 5 years have passed since the date of his or her conviction, release from imprisonment, or discharge from parole, and he or she has been convicted of no more than 2 misdemeanors total and no felony offenses.
While many crimes can be erased in Michigan, there are a number of felony offenses that cannot be expunged. These include offenses for which the maximum punishment is incarceration for life, second-degree child abuse, criminal sexual conduct, human trafficking, terrorism, and serious traffic offenses. If you are unsure if your past crime qualifies for expungement, contact a Detroit expungement lawyer at Davis Law Group for a free, initial evaluation.
