Grand Rapids Expungement Attorney

What is expungement?

Expungement means getting a conviction set aside and having it removed from the public record of the Michigan State Police.  The record would be made non-public, so if someone such as an employer, landlord, etc., did a criminal record check on you, that crime would not be visible.  Your record may be expunged one time only.  Both juvenile and adult convictions may be expunged, but they must meet certain specific criteria:

• You may not have more than one criminal conviction (Two convictions on the same case would prohibit you from applying for an expungement.)
• You may not have been convicted of a criminal sexual  offense , or of an attempted criminal sexual  offense.
• You may not have been convicted of a felony that was punishable by a life sentence.
• You may not have been convicted for a traffic offense.
• If you are applying for a juvenile expungement, you must be at least 24 years old to apply.
• It must be at least 5 years since you were convicted.
• If you served a prison sentence, it must be at least 5 years since you were released.

Though technically you can request an expungement without an attorney, such cases may be complicated, such as if there is one juvenile conviction and one adult conviction.  A Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyer from the Fiorletta Law Group can help you get a copy of your criminal record and advise you on the best way to proceed for your case.

How can I get my record expunged?

To receive an expungement you must file an application with the court.  A hearing date will be scheduled for you.  It may be a number of months until the hearing occurs.  Having your conviction set aside is not automatic.  It must be shown to the court that your actions and deeds, since the conviction merit the expungement, and that it is in the public interest to do so.  It is in your best interest to have an attorney representing you, as it is common for the interested parties (The Michigan Attorney General, the original prosecutor and the victim of the crime) to protest the conviction being set aside.

Contact a Grand Rapids Expungement Attorney today to help you get that second chance and a new start in your life.