Automatic Expungements: Michigan Clean Slate

Michigan State Police (MSP) run a daily, automatic process that removes certain old convictions when the waiting period is met. You do not need to apply or go to court.

What Can Be Automatically Cleared

• Misdemeanors punishable by less than 93 days in prison
  • Unlimited number may be set aside; and
  • Eligible after 7 years.
• Misdemeanors punishable by 93 days or more in prison
  • Up to 4 may be set aside; and
  • Eligible after 7 years.
• Felonies
  • Up to 2 may be set aside; and
  • Eligible after 10 years from sentencing or release (whichever is later).

Use the ICHAT public background check system to view your record. If your conviction was not automatically expunged and you believe it should have been, you will need to email the Michigan State Police Department.

If your conviction is not eligible for automatic expungement, you may still qualify to apply through the court.

Applying for Expungement: Petition Process

If your conviction is not eligible for automatic expungement you can apply for a set aside to the court that handled your case. See below for step-by-step instructions.

How Many Convictions You Can Apply to Remove

• Up to 3 felonies in your lifetime;
• Unlimited misdemeanors;
• No more than 2 assaultive crimes may be set aside;
• Only one felony punishable by 10+ years can be set aside; and
• Some traffic convictions can be set aside, but they stay on your driving record.

Waiting Periods

You must wait:

• 7 years for multiple felonies;
• 5 years for a single felony or certain serious misdemeanors; and
• 3 years for most other misdemeanors.

If you get a new conviction during your waiting period, you are not eligible until the new waiting period ends.

First-Time Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)

You may apply to remove one first-time OWI conviction if:

• It did not involve injury or death; and
• At least 5 years have passed.

Marijuana Misdemeanors

If you were convicted of a marijuana misdemeanor for conduct that would not be illegal today (after legalization in 2018), you can apply for a simplified process.

How It Works

• File your application with the convicting court and serve the prosecutor.
• If the prosecutor does not respond within 60 days, the court must issue an order clearing the conviction within 21 days.
• If the prosecutor does respond, the court must hold a hearing within 30 days.
• You do not need to present evidence; the prosecutor must prove the conduct would still be a crime today.

Excluded Offenses

Certain convictions cannot be cleared—either by automatic expungement or by filing a petition:

• Felonies punishable by life imprisonment (or attempts);
• Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree;
• CSC 4th degree, if convicted on or after Jan 12, 2015;
• Second degree child abuse;
• Any child sexually abusive activity or materials;
• Using a computer to commit certain crimes;
• Any OWI/DUI other than a first-time offense;
• Traffic offenses involving a CDL or that caused serious injury or death;
• Felony domestic violence, if you already have a prior misdemeanor or domestic violence conviction; and
• Human trafficking, forced labor, or debt bondage.

Limits on Assaultive or Serious Crimes

• You can only clear up to 2 "assaultive" crimes in your lifetime.
• Assaultive crimes include:
  • Assault & battery, domestic violence, aggravated assault;
  • Using weapons, bombs, terroristic threats;
  • Kidnapping, human trafficking, torture;
  • Child abuse, stalking, mayhem; and
  • CSC (all degrees), robbery, armed/unarmed carjacking, terrorism.