In December of 2012, Michigan enacted a new law that makes
it easier for people to wipe (or “expunge”) juvenile crimes off their record.
Public Act 527 of 2012 allows a person to expunge up to
three misdemeanors, or one felony, a year after the offender completes their
sentence and probation. The previous law
only allowed for one misdemeanor to be erased 5 years after the case was closed
and did not allow felonies to be expunged.
There are a few exceptions under the new law. For example, felonies punishable by life in
prison and traffic tickets cannot be expunged.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joe Haveman of Holland, says that
this new law will help people who made bad decisions at a young age and are now
facing difficulty entering college or the military, or finding employment. He believes that this bill strikes a balance
between the need to be tough on crime and alternatives for people who are
behaving themselves.
The bill received rare unanimous approval in both the House
and the Senate. Governor Rick Snyder
signed the bill into law two days after Christmas.
To read the text of the new law, please visit: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/pdf/2012-PA-0527.pdf.
If you need help expunging a juvenile record, or have other
legal questions, contact Attorney Melissa Cox at Fausone Bohn, LLP at (248)
380-0000 or online at www.fb-firm.com.
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