Beginning in February 2022 Michigan’s new Clean Slate laws will take effect, allowing individuals to apply for expungement if they were convicted of a first-time operating while intoxicated (OWI) offense. If it has been more than five years since probation ended, individuals may be eligible to apply in the new year. Individuals convicted of certain marijuana offenses may be eligible to apply for expungement immediately.
Successful expungement will remove conviction from the public record. This is often referred to as “record-sealing” or “setting aside a conviction.” In Michigan, a conviction will still be retained in a non-public record by law enforcement only, but will not be available to potential employers or housing lenders, for example.
Expungement under the new laws is not automatic and will depend on individual circumstances. To learn more about Michigan’s Clean Slate Laws, or if you or anyone you know is interested in applying for an expungement, please reach out to our attorneys for an initial consultation.