Safe & Just Michigan

08/31/2026

Check out The Clean Slate Initiative latest report, The Economic Losses from Arrest and Conviction Records, that "puts numbers behind what people with records have long experienced: the economic consequences associated with a record can affect employment, earnings, savings, family stability, and opportunities to build wealth."

New Clean Slate Initiative research estimates arrest and conviction records are associated with $440 billion in lost earnings annually across the U.S.

08/30/2026

Important dates from Michigan Secretary of State's Office ⬇️⬇️

The Road to Restoration season is coming to close with just four clinics remaining.

Take a look at the upcoming driver’s license clinics and learn more: mi.gov/r2r

08/27/2026

Today we had a great team lunch discussing many important topics including our signature event scheduled for Sept 3! We look forward to seeing all of our registered guests. If you did not register, we look forward to seeing you next year and please understand our registration is closed as all the seats are taken.

08/27/2026

"It is important to note that these Survivor Justice Act laws do not actually release any people from prison; rather, they allow judges to weigh—along with other evidence—the impact of abuse on the crime at hand. It is merely an opportunity to present this evidence to the judicial officer, who is trusted to weigh the proper response to each crime based on the relevant facts and circumstances."

These laws allow full and adequate consideration of abuse and the role it can play in offenses.

08/26/2026

We love Second Chance employers!

As Pete Leonard of I Have a Bean shares, fair access to employment strengthens families, expands the workforce, and gives people a chance to demonstrate how they’ve moved forward.

For people with arrest and conviction records, access to stable employment can open doors to greater economic opportunity and a more secure future.

We’re grateful to business leaders like Pete who are putting fair chance employment into practice and helping expand access to second chances in their communities.

🏷️ Responsible Business Initiative for Justice

08/26/2026

Registration for our signature event is now closed. We are looking forward to seeing our registered guests on September 3.

The evening could not happen without the generous support of our event sponsors. Our guests are able to join us at no cost to them because of the kindness of the people, organizations and businesses listed below. We are grateful.

08/25/2026

On Saturday, August 22, we hosted the 5th Annual Clean Slate Grand Rapids Expungement Fair at the MLK Community Center. This was easily the biggest Grand Rapids fair to date, and one of the largest fairs that we have ever seen in the State of Michigan.

We screened 676 Michiganders and found 348 people eligible or partially eligible for expungement under Michigan's Clean Slate laws! Thank you to all of the organizations, general volunteers, attorneys, and notaries that came together to put on this event.

08/24/2026

On Friday, we hosted an expungement fair in Traverse City with great partners at Wayne State Law, Northwest Michigan Works, Michigan Department of Attorney General, and Michigan State Police. Our Clean Slate Program Manager Kamau Sandiford connected with our friend and former Fund Development Fellow Scott Tompkins.

We screened 106 Michiganders for the event and 50 were eligible or partially eligible for expungement under Michigan's Clean Slate laws! What a great day for Second Chances!

08/21/2026

Important information from Citizens for Prison Reform ⬇️⬇️

Years of advocacy have led to this moment. The Michigan House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on HB 5920 and HB 5921, two bills that would strengthen and expand the work of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman.

Our community has been pushing for meaningful oversight for years, and lawmakers need to hear from us now.

How You Can Support These Bills

• Submit written testimony by Monday, August 24 at 12:00 p.m.

Please note, written testimony must be uploaded through the Michigan House testimony form. Email submissions are no longer accepted.

Submit Written Testimony Here: https://bit.ly/4xcVuld

• Attend in person or watch virtually on House TV.

Hearing Details
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
12:00 p.m.
Room 521, House Office Building, Lansing

Watch Here: https://bit.ly/4im8xft

What HB 5920 and HB 5921 Would Do
These bills would strengthen the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman by:

•Requiring public reporting of investigations
•Expanding the ways complaints can be filed
•Strengthening the Ombudsman’s ability to work with outside experts

HB 5921 also expands who can file complaints, requires notification to complainants and affected prisoners, mandates monthly and annual public reports, and strengthens anti‑retaliation protections.

Your Voice Matters
Families, formerly incarcerated people, advocates, and community members have carried this work forward for years. This hearing is a direct result of your persistence. Let’s make sure lawmakers hear from our community.

08/21/2026

On August 22 we will be in Grand Rapids hosting an expungement fair with many great partners!

The city of Grand Rapids is holding an event Saturday to help eligible Michigan residents expunge their criminal records.