Expungement fairs offer free help clearing criminal record in Detroit
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Get free assistance as you begin the process of clearing your criminal record in Detroit.
Some offenses are expunged automatically after a set amount of time, while others require that you apply for the convictions to be set aside.
Automatic expungements are available for those who have up to four misdemeanors that are punishable by 93 days in jail or more after seven years have passed since the sentence was given. For felonies, up to two convictions may be automatically expunged after 10 years from the sentence or when the term of imprisonment ends - whichever comes later.
If you don't have a conviction that will automatically be expunged, find help requesting expungement Sept. 20 at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and Sept. 30 at the Andy Arts Community Center in Detroit.
To get an expungement, you must fill out an application and obtain a certified order of conviction from the court where you were convicted. You also need to get fingerprinted and purchase a $50 money order for Michigan State Police. This process can take up to eight months.
Most state offenses can be expunged after a set amount of time. This includes up to three felonies, two convictions for assaultive crimes, one drinking and driving offense, and unlimited misdemeanors.
Learn more about the expungement fairs.
Who qualifies for automatic crime expungement in Michigan?
Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will soon have criminal convictions expunged from their records automatically, thanks to the Clean Slate law. Previously, people with qualifying convictions would need to apply and go through an expungement process.
Crimes that cannot be expunged:
- More than one felony conviction for the same offense if the crime has a punishment of more than 10 years in prison
- Felonies or attempts with a maximum sentence of life in prison
- Sex crimes: Child sexually abusive material or activity offenses Using a computer to commit sex crimes offenses Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct Using a computer to commit sex crimes Second-degree criminal sexual conduct Third-degree criminal sexual conduct Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct committed after Jan.12, 2015
- Child sexually abusive material or activity offenses
- Using a computer to commit sex crimes offenses
- Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct
- Using a computer to commit sex crimes
- Second-degree criminal sexual conduct
- Third-degree criminal sexual conduct
- Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct committed after Jan.12, 2015
- Second-degree child abuse
- Human-trafficking
- Felony domestic violence if the person has a previous domestic violence misdemeanor
- Some traffic offenses: Operating while intoxicated that caused injury or death Operating while intoxicated if a person has more than one operating while intoxicated offense Traffic offenses that caused injury or death Commercial Driver License violations
- Operating while intoxicated that caused injury or death
- Operating while intoxicated if a person has more than one operating while intoxicated offense
- Traffic offenses that caused injury or death
- Commercial Driver License violations
- More than two assaultive crime convictions