Muskegon expungement clinic offers hope, a new start

An old conviction on someone’s record might feel like a lifetime ago, but it can prevent them from volunteering at their child’s school, renting a home, or landing a good job.

An expungement clinic in Muskegon Heights this Saturday will help those who are eligible to wipe their records clean.

“(Participants) can expect to meet people who are there for their benefit. They want to help. They’re there because they want to be able to help people have that fresh start,” says Janet Robinson, one of the event organizers and a co-founder of Gaining Unity through Non-Violent Solutions.

Partnership

The city of Muskegon is partnering with G.U.N.S. (Gaining Unity through Non-Violent Solutions) and Safe and Just to provide the series of expungement clinics that will be funded by the Muskegon Social Equity Program.

The clinic will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 10 at Lake Hawks in Flight Foundation Inc. Community Center, 95 W. Broadway Ave., Muskegon Heights. For details about Saturday’s clinic, visit mkgcity.com/clinic.

Pre-registration has ended, but walk-ins are also welcome.

The clinic will have at least 10 attorneys working with people to determine what is on their records and expungement eligibility. There will also be free fingerprinting, document notarization and envelopes for the requisite documents to be mailed to the state police, prosecutor, attorney general’s office and court. Representatives from the 60th District Court will be there to help set up court dates.

Connections

Expungement clinics allow participants to connect with experts and to know they’re on the right track. For some people it can be overwhelming, Robinson says.

Among the offenses that are eligible for expungement are driving without a license, some marijuana crimes, and first offense driving while impaired. Violent crimes are not eligible.

For those who can’t make Saturday’s clinic, the Michigan State Police and Attorney General websites have more information Two more clinics are planned for later in the year, Robinson says.

“Helping one individual can help a whole family and then helping one family can help a whole community,” Robinson says.