Michigan Expungement Bill 4186
Posted on September 18th, 2013
In Michigan, House Bill 4186 has been introduced, and it proposes changes to the state's current expungement laws. Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes, a Democrat from Saginaw County, introduced House Bill 4186, which would expand the current expungement law to apply to those who have been convicted of a single felony and up to two misdemeanors. The waiting period to be eligible to apply for expungement would be pushed to five years after finishing probation or parole.
Michigan's current law only allows for record expungement for offenders who only have one conviction on their record, or were under 18 when the crime was committed. The current law requires that the request for expungement be made five years after sentencing or release from prison.
This new proposal would effectively diminish the presence of “invisible sentences,” a slang term referencing the inability to obtain employment for individuals that have served time in prison.
Representative Oakes believes that a Bill of this nature indicates that incarceration is becoming an acceptable form of rehabilitation, and it and shows these individuals can become contributing members of society if given a second chance. It also helps these individuals to move away from receiving state benefits, and allows them to be able to obtain gainful employment to support themselves.
Currently, House Bill 4186 is still in the Michigan House of Representatives pending consideration.
To see if you are eligible for expungement under current Michigan law, please call us at 877-573-7273 for a free over-the-phone consultation.