EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing 54B District Court has partnered with Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) to host the Mid-Michigan Virtual Expungement Clinic, which will assist up to 100 eligible participants with convictions in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.
The clinic will be held virtually via Zoom on Saturday, June 19 at 9 a.m. Participants will be paired into virtual meeting rooms with volunteer attorneys, working pro bono, to review the participant’s ICHAT records and explain the expungement process.
The East Lansing 54B District Court and LSSCM are currently recruiting interested attorneys to participate in this service to the community. Training and support will also be provided to the volunteer attorneys. A public information seminar will take place on Wednesday, June 2 at 6 p.m. with presenters from Safe and Just Michigan and Michigan Legal Help, who will explain the changes in the expungement laws and how to utilize Michigan Legal Help as a self-help resource.
Expungement of records can benefit community members by advancing their careers, furthering their education and stabilizing their housing. The process of applying for an expungement can be an intricate and daunting process, which is why the Ingham County, Clinton County and Eaton County Circuit and District Courts, with the support of the Ingham, Clinton and Eaton County Clerks, are waiving the fees for certified copies of convictions for the month of June. The Ingham County Sheriff’s Office and East Lansing Police Department have also agreed to waive the cost of ink fingerprints for those applying for expungements in the month of June.
Community members interested in participating in the virtual expungement clinic or attending the public information seminar can register on the 54B District Court website at www.54BDistrictCourt.com.
Capital Area Michigan Works! will provide clinic registration assistance and will also provide referral services to individuals unable to participate in the virtual expungement clinic due to capacity. Contact Capital Area Michigan Works! at (517) 492-5518 or arichardson@camw.net.
Attorneys who are interested in volunteering at the virtual expungement clinic can contact Sarah Munro at LSSCM at smunro@lsscm.org. For information about available expungement resources, community members should contact court and law enforcement agencies directly.