Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

Big E's Sports Grille

710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2024 – 7:15 AM

When a convicted criminal serves their time, it is said that they have paid their debt to society. Or did they? Oftentimes these people continue to pay this debt well after they serve their time, because their criminal record prevents them from obtaining the opportunities more readily available to those without a criminal record. Background checks for employment, education and training, home loans, apartment leases, or even to volunteer for an organization flag their record for the debt they already paid, which most likely prevents them from getting these opportunities. This makes the process for them to reenter society far more difficult than it has to be, which, unfortunately, makes recidivism a more likely reality for some of these people. And, in the end, society is often no better for it.

On April 11, 2023, Clean Slate Automatic Expungement became a law in Michigan. This new law clears away old criminal records from people who have remained crime-free for a period of years, opening doors of opportunity in jobs, housing, and education.

Yes, there are crimes that must always stay on a person's record, but there are others that shouldn't. Which ones are they? Where do we draw the line in Michigan?

Our speaker is John Cooper, Executive Director of Safe and Just Michigan. He'll present on Michigan's first year of automatic expungement and help answer these questions and others you may have.

Invocation: Eric Nelson
Introduction: Vince Schumacher

The Criminal Justice System

1. "Every human being is worth more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. All life has dignity, guilty life too." ~ Helen Prejean 

2. "The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned. We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated." ~ Bryan Stevenson

3. "We can’t isolate somebody and expect him or her to reintegrate into society."
   ~ Bruce Schenk