Setting aside a conviction removes that conviction from the public record maintained by the Michigan State Police. This "clearing" of someone's criminal record means that any criminal record check—with a few specific exceptions—will return nothing. It will be as though the conviction never existed.
Though Michigan uses the term "expungement," this may be misleading: no procedure exists that will completely purge a criminal record from the justice system. While the conviction will be removed from the State Police's records, an updated court case file will still be visible to court staff for limited purposes, such as increasing a sentence if someone is convicted of a new offense.
Despite these limitations, having a conviction expunged carries several advantages. Perhaps the most prominent one is the right to answer "no" to a critical question on many job and other applications: "Have you been convicted of a crime?" Additionally, expungement can improve a credit rating and help with applications for subsidized housing or public benefits.
However, having a criminal record set aside or expunged in Michigan is not easy, and not everyone—even those who meet the basic requirements—will succeed in having their record expunged.
To find a criminal attorney in your area that handles expungements, click http://attorneypages.com/524MI/index.htm.
For more information on Michigan's law, click the following articles:
Expunging or Setting Aside Adult Criminal Records in Michigan: Eligibility
Process for Expunging Adult Criminal Records in Michigan
Expunging/Setting Aside Juvenile Adjudication Records in Michigan
Process for Expunging/Setting Aside Juvenile Records in Michigan
Do I Need an Attorney to Expunge my Criminal Record in Michigan?