Clean Slate Expungement Fair: Have A Felony On Your Record? Get It Removed
DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit residents who have been convicted of a felony can now get help cleaning up their record.
It's called expungement -- the legal term for clearing a criminal record -- and if you have one felony, or two misdemeanors, and have been out of prison and off probation for five years, you might be eligible to have your slate wiped clean.
"There are exceptions to this, but all crimes expect for those punishable by life in prison, criminal sexual conduct, or traffic offenses such as drunk driving, can be expunged," said WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton. "The most serious crime that can be expunged is negligent homicide, perhaps manslaughter, writing a bad check -- there can be a lot of very serious crimes. Now, in practice though, most people who are convicted of those crimes have two felonies on their records, and they cannot get those expunged."
The city is holding a "Clean Slate Expungement Fair" on September 24 at Second Ebenezer Baptist Church (14601 Dequindre Street) where Detroit residents can get free legal assistance with expunging their records.
Bishop Edgar Vann said many people find it difficult to gain employment or apply for a license with a felony on their record.
"There are people who have small incidents on their records, historically, many times from their many, many younger days, and to have the opportunity to get those things expunged means that they are in a position not to have to look over their shoulder," said Vann.
For more information, click here.