Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on February 17, 2005, 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 no other offenses, or not more than two misdemeanors, to apply to have these "set aside," or expunged from the person's public record. This would not apply to convictions for criminal sexual conduct, domestic violence, or crimes punishable by life imprisonment. The bill also allows a person to apply sooner after completing a sentence. Under current law, only a person with a single criminal conviction can petition to have the record expunged

The vote was 56 in favor, 48 opposed and 6 not voting

(House Roll Call 475 at House Journal 82)

Click here to view bill details.

To whom it may concern:I read the lastest bill that was passed and I feel that If a man or woman who has two felonies on their record should be have their records expunged after 10 years has passed because this will be held over their heads as a mistake that can't be fixed. If the law says that you have the right to bear arms then this should apply to people with criminal records because what would happen if a man or woman held a gun to annocent citizen a killed him or her then their parents are going to say why couldn't my child protect themselves from being killed. I also feel that since some men and women have gone through rehabilition on their crimes that was committed why not give him or her a second chance in life. If not then a lot of citizens are dead.

my daughter committed a crime against me just after she turned 18 i called the police department because i thought she had punctured my car tires but she just let the air out of them/ to make a long story short she was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and destruction of property(malicious ) which gave her 2 misdeaners she applied to have her charges expunged she was denied in november of 2005 she is now 23 years old with a child living on adc she was denied section 8 housing she can't even get a job at mcdonalds once her record shows up she will never get a chance to show that she made a mistake i am watching hb 4327 closely in hopes the governor signs the bill into law i didn't know about hb 4327 until i sought help from an attorney who told us to pray

I think this is a great bill to get passed soon!! I got a misdemeanor charge for a small petty thing. But because of that, I am now not allowed to continue with the nursing program that I have been waiting for three years to get into. No hospital will let you do your clinicals there because of the new law that passed about doing criminal background checks on their employees. I think they should do back ground checks. But the law is very strict, no misdemeanor of any kind can be on your criminal back ground history with in the last ten years. Well the state is complaining about nursing shortages, now its going to be even harder to find good nurses. Everyone makes one bad mistake. But why should we be punished for ten years. If this this house bill 4327 passes, then not only will I be able to move on in my career, I am sure there are others that are being held back form getting good jobs because of the five year wait to get their misdemeanor expunged from their record. Two years is long enough to think about the mistake I have made. I feel the day I got the misdemeanor charge and faced a judge for the first time, was punishment enough.

I WROTE TO YOU IN DECEMBER 2005 MY DAUGHTER WILL BE 25 YEARS OLD NEXT MONTH SHE IS STILL UNABLE TO GET PUBLIC HOUSING OR A JOB DUE TO HER MISDEMANERS S (2) SHE IS RELYING SOLELY ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR HERSELF AND SON A PERSON CAN EXPUNGE A FELONY AFTER 5 YEAR BUT 2 MISDEMEANERS ARE ON RECORD UNTIL A PERSON DIES (FOREVER )ACTUALLY THE OLD LAW IS TELLING US IT'S BEST TO COMMIT A FELONY

well i am a mother of 3 and on walfare because i have 2 felonys on my record now that they passed the law you can only have 1 felony im not able to get a good job to support my family ill be on walfare my whole life because of this its not fair mine are peddy felonys what can i do ? im writing the senate to see if there is some thing they can do to help me cause i would like to make my life right at least off my employment record so i can support my family im barely doing that now $590 is not enougn to live on for a month with 3 kids. i think there should be a case where if its not serious then we still can get it expung from our record i just dont no what to do?

I was charged with a Felony drug crime in 2003 for a crime i did not commit. I was tried and convicted before i even went to court. I never got a fair trial. I was told i was going to jail. I repeatly told the police and the attorneys that it was a set up, but it didn't matter, a juvinile with history of offences, had more leway than a law abiding tax payer. the juvinile blamed us, so that she would not go to jail for using marajuana. I never was drug tested, my house was never searched, but the police and the prosecuters had the evidence i did it. I was 27 years old, working full time, a homeowner. Now i can't get a job, I have lost my house, and the respect that i once had. Lets see if this law really works.

railroaded. please tell us the evidence that the police used against you that you say doesn't exist. you've made the claim, it's time for you to substantiate it. please give us the case name so we can look up the FACTS for ourselves. the court record, and any records of your appeals should be replete with references that will allow us to see where you have been 'railroaded'. how is it that you were 'plucked from the streets' and vilefied? you have only one chance to make your case in the 'court of public opinion', in which you have brought your case. each and every one of us here is filling the part of judge, jury and executioner. make your case. don't lie. be prepared to verify your facts.

I would like to know if there will ever be a way for persons with criminal records, to re-enter into society and become a tax-paying citizen? Its unclear to me an individual with (3) convictions;(2)felonies&(1)misdemeanor,how do I move forward or is there life after a criminal record. How is it if you have felony convictions that you are unable to obtain public housing,receive housing assistance,and employment, but their are several prisoners released from jail into society that probably won't make it in this transition if no one will even give them the chance. How can you say that you are rehabilitating these individuals to re-enter into society when they don't have a chance. I think this is very contradictory. These people are under the assumption that they will be able to obtain employment only to find out that it's nearly impossible. This state is not fair, snd I understand due to certain job profession background checks are necessary but, for some employers to be able to obtain your record and deny you employment for an offense that has no relevance to your job duties is not fair. And some people are able to obtain employment, but the "good jobs" or those that may pay a decent living salary,offer insurance & 401k,and other rewarding benefits won't even consider you with a criminal record. How do you make a new start?, this should not hinder you forever. Please offer me some insight on how to move your life in a positive aspect when their are so many negative forces that won't forgive you. "The Lord says that he can forgive us for our sins but, man won't."

This is holding my husband back from moving forward in his career. He has 2 misdemeanors from his college days. He learned from his mistakes. It haunts and holds him back now 15 years later.