In December of 2012, Michigan enacted a new law that makes it easier for people to wipe (or “expunge”) juvenile crimes off their record.

Public Act 527 (2012) allows a person to expunge up to three misdemeanors, or one felony, a year after the offender completes their sentence and probation.  The previous law only allowed for one misdemeanor to be erased 5 years after the case was closed and did not allow felonies to be expunged.

There are a few exceptions under the new law.  For example, felonies punishable by life in prison and traffic tickets cannot be expunged. Edit: As of 2021, some low-level offenses including traffic violations may be eligible for a lesser-sentencing, alternative to jail time, or even expungement.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joe Haveman of Holland, says that this new law will help people who made bad decisions at a young age and are now facing difficulty entering college or the military or finding employment.  He believes that this bill strikes a balance between the need to be tough on crime and alternatives for people who are behaving themselves.

The bill received rare unanimous approval in both the House and the Senate.  Governor Rick Snyder signed the bill into law two days after Christmas.

If you need help expunging a juvenile record or have other legal questions, please contact Fausone Bohn, LLP at (248) 380-0000 or online at FB-Firm.com. To read the text of the new law, please click to view PDF.