LANSING, MI - State Representative George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit) co-sponsors a bill that would allow a court order to completely remove a felony or up to two misdemeanor convictions for some offenses. The bill, which Mary Waters (D-Detroit) recently introduced, also would revise the time frame for when a person could file to have his or her offenses erased.
Currently, Michigan law allows a person with only one criminal conviction to file to have that conviction erased. However, before he or she files, the offender must wait at least five years from the date of sentencing or the completion of his or her prison term, whichever is later.
Under the bill, a person with a felony conviction would have to wait at least five years after completion of probation, parole or imprisonment, whichever was later. Those with a misdemeanor conviction would have to wait two years after finishing probation or a prison term, whichever comes later.
"This bill gives people a second chance after they have been convicted of a crime," Cushingberry said. "Once a person does his or her time they are supposed to have paid their debt to society. However, society doesn't forgive or forget. Many employers will not hire an ex-offender and landlords won't rent them an apartment. This gives offenders a chance to move their lives in a positive direction."
A conviction would not be erased if it's a felony that is punishable by life imprisonment, criminal sexual conduct in the second or third degree, assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct in the first, second or third degree and for traffic offenses.
http://008.housedems.com/news/article/cushingberry-supports-bill-that-would-eliminate-criminal-record