The Berrien County Trial Court is working to ensure those who have certain criminal convictions on their records get those cleared after a state law took effect in April to give those individuals a clean slate. Speaking at a Thursday meeting, Berrien County Commissioner Jim Curran said the administration committee has been briefed by Trial Court Administrator Carrie Smietanka-Haney on the Automated Clean Slate system.
“It’s basically put together by Michigan State Police,” Curran said. “They use the criteria that’s in the law, and then they send the information down to the Berrien County court and say these are the people who apply or who are governed by the Clean Slate agreement.”
Curran said most of the cases involve misdemeanors. He added the court has so far gotten 39,000 names for the Clean Slate system, and more are coming in.
“It’s like when you get your record expunged on steroids. Everything is going.”
The goal of the Automated Clean Slate system is to help those with convictions move on and find work. Some felony convictions can also be expunged, but after a longer waiting period. Under the new state law, an individual doesn’t have to apply to have their record expunged. It’s automatic. You can find out more about the Clean Slate law here.
