Bills to wipe criminal records clean pass Michigan Legislature

[RandySF]

Bills that would likely make hundreds of thousands more Michiganders eligible to have their criminal records wiped clean passed the state House Thursday with bipartisan support. They are now on their way to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk, where they are expected to be signed into law.

The package would dramatically change Michigan’s system for expunging criminal records. Advocates say it would increase opportunities for employment and housing to many who have previously struggled while carrying old convictions despite years of staying out of the criminal justice system.

“Making expungement cheaper, easier and available to more residents than ever before will remove the barriers that hold too many people back,” Rep. Graham Filler, R-DeWitt, said in a statement Thursday.

“This will change lives for the better by giving people access to the well-paying jobs they have always dreamed about, financing options so they can buy a home for their family and the educational opportunities they need to better their future.”




https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/bills-wipe-criminal-records-clean-pass-michigan-legislature

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Good.

People need the chance to start over.

I have a good friend who has worked with prisoners for some years now. Protestants would say he has a prison ministry, but since he's Catholic that's not the language he uses. But it is what he does. He corresponds with men in prison. He has become friends with a number of them. And he's provided a post-prison home for several.

It hasn't been easy. Two of the men he took into his home wound up returning to prison, and that was after causing him financial hardship. He has decided he won't house any more released prisoners, but he still stays in touch with a number of them. Through him I've come to understand stuff that most of us law-abiding-never-knew-anyone-who-served-time types don't know.

If nothing else, once a term is served, full rights should be restored. Including voting. Although I will say, if someone is released from prison and then moves to another state and registers to vote there, how would that state know this was an ex-felon? Is there some kind of master list?

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

2. There are multiple databases

National law enforcement telecommunication system (NLETS), the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC), and the FBI Interstate Identification Index (Triple I) are the main ones that I know of that have information available from nationwide. Individual states may have their own systems as well and may share information with neighboring states. There is also the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) which is used for gun purchases, but I think that is run by and maintained by the FBI NCIC and only used for gun purchases.

[MichMan]

3. Their records are expunged; there is no need for a master list