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- Introduced by Rep. Eileen Kowall (R) on March 24, 2011, to revise the grounds for seeking to have a criminal record expunged from a person’s record. The bill would allow a person convicted of only one felony offense and two “minor offenses” to apply to have these "set aside," or expunged from the person's public record. Under current law, only a person with a single criminal conviction can petition to have the record expunged.
- Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on March 24, 2011.
Comments
1) Re: 2011 House Bill 4502 (Revise criminal record expungement rules ) by Kms121712 on October 30, 2012I am absolutely and positively in favor of this bill. I have two misdemeanors from my late teens: simple assault and lying to a police officer. I have been denied so many opportunities because of stupid mistakes I made 17 years ago and only hope with all of my heart that I could expunge the charges from my record.
Although I don't know if this bill will help me or not since one of my two misdemeanors was punishable by up to a year in jail, I sincerely hope this bill passes. Even with a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, I have been unable to find a job because of my record that happened almost ten years ago. I would like nothing more than to have the opportunity to provide a decent life for my children who, I feel, are also being punished by my mistakes by being forced to live in poverty. When someone crashes their car or defaults on a credit card, these incidents are erased after five to seven years so they can learn from their mistakes and start fresh again. Shouldn't the same opportunity be given to non-violent and non-sexual offenders? Otherwise, everyone convicted of a crime, no matter how small, is serving a life sentence.
I am praying that this bill passes. It could change my life. I was convicted of 2 non-violent, non-sexual misdemeanors and I am a nurse who cannot get the experience that I need to progress my career because of my background. I am being told that because of my charges, which were DISMISSED, I am ineligible to work in the hospital. The passing of this bill would be one of the best things that could ever happen to me and my family.
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