Expungement is the process of petitioning a court to have convictions removed from public record. Criminal records follow people all their lives and end up feeling like life sentences. Unfortunately, a strong connection between disability and the criminal justice system exists. While the national shift toward the de-institutionalization of people with disabilities is widely accepted as a positive thing, during the same time frame, people with disabilities­—particularly those with mental health conditions—began being absorbed into the criminal justice system, often due to minor infractions.

In October 2020, Governor Whitmer signed the Michigan Clean Slate Act legislation into law. The Clean Slate Act expands eligibility to petition for expungement in several ways and creates a new process that will automatically seal certain non-violent conviction records if a person has remained conviction-free for a designated period of time.

Follow this link to learn more about the Michigan Clean Slate Act.

Many people with disabilities are going to be able to benefit from the Clean Slate Act. For this reason, it is very important for the application process to be as accessible as possible. Disability Network is partnering with Representative Christine Morse’s office to co-host a two-part expungement clinic this spring to assist people with the application process.

Follow this link for details and to register for the Expungement Clinic.