A criminal record can follow you for years, affecting your job prospects, housing options, professional licenses, and personal relationships. If you have a past conviction and have already served your time, you may have legal options to move forward. Criminal defense attorney Dan Geherin of Geherin Law Group, PLLC helps people in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw County pursue expungement of their criminal records.
An expungement is also called “setting aside” a conviction. It is a legal process that removes a criminal conviction from your public record. Once a conviction is expunged, it no longer appears in standard background checks, and Michigan law allows you to legally state that you were never convicted of that offense.
Expungement does not erase the record entirely. Law enforcement agencies retain access to a private record of the conviction. Expungement also does not restore certain rights or automatically reverse other consequences that may have resulted from your conviction. However, for most people, the practical benefits of clearing a public criminal record are significant.
In 2020, Michigan passed a series of “Clean Slate” reforms that significantly expanded who qualifies for expungement and, in many cases, shortened the waiting periods required before applying. Some convictions now qualify for automatic expungement without a hearing.
Under current Michigan law, the following general guidelines apply:
Certain convictions are not eligible for expungement under any circumstances. These include certain traffic offenses, operating while intoxicated (OWI), except for some first-time offenses, offenses punishable by life in prison, and most criminal sexual conduct convictions.
Clearing your record opens doors that a conviction tends to close. With the help of a skilled expungement lawyer, people who successfully expunge their convictions often find it easier to secure employment, qualify for housing, pursue higher education, and obtain professional licenses. In many cases, the removal of a conviction from public view also reduces the personal and social stigma that can come with a criminal record.
That said, expungement has limits. It does not apply to all convictions, does not guarantee any specific outcome in future legal matters, and does not affect federal records or certain licensing boards that retain access to sealed records.
The expungement process involves several steps and typically takes a few months from start to finish. Here is a general overview of how it works:
Expungement petitions are not automatically approved. A judge has discretion in deciding whether to grant relief, and the prosecutor’s office will often weigh in with their own position. Having an experienced lawyer in your corner can make a meaningful difference in how your petition is received and argued.
Our law firm is led Attorney Dan Geherin is a board-certified criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor with more than 25 years of experience in Michigan criminal law. His background on both sides of the courtroom gives him a clear understanding of how prosecutors and judges evaluate expungement petitions, and how to present your case in the strongest possible way.
Dan believes that people who have served their time deserve a real opportunity to move forward. As an experienced Ann Arbor expungement lawyer, he works directly with clients throughout Ann Arbor and Southeastern Michigan to assess eligibility, prepare the required filings, and advocate at the hearing for the outcome they deserve.
If you have a conviction in Washtenaw County or anywhere in Southeastern Michigan and want to explore your expungement options, contact Dan Geherin and the team at our Ann Arbor law firm Geherin Law Group, PLLC, team.
Are you eligible for expungement? Click below to see the PDF.
