Washtenaw County expungement fair offers free help clearing criminal records
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - Washtenaw County residents with criminal convictions can get help clearing their records at a free expungement fair this weekend.
The Michigan Advocacy Program and Legal Services of South Central Michigan will be at the Learning Resource Center in Ann Arbor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
This fair will include free eligibility screenings, application preparation, and background checks and fingerprinting, which are both required for expungements.
Registration for the fair is recommended but not required. Register here.
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.
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.