Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents may be eligible to have their criminal record expunged under new laws, according to the state. How it worksMichigan residents who have committed certain crimes can file an application to have their criminal record expunged. Instead of waiting for automatic expungement, individuals seeking to have a serious misdemeanor or felony conviction set aside can submit an application after five years. Individuals seeking to have more than one felony conviction set aside can submit an application after seven years. Individuals cannot have more than two felony convictions or four misdemeanor convictions set aside during their lifetime.