Latest news with #CleanSlateAct
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois criminal justice advocates tout ‘Clean Slate' legislation as ‘economic boon'
SPRINGFIELD — Criminal justice reform advocates say legislation to seal criminal records for certain nonviolent crimes, which passed Friday in the House, would unlock economic opportunity for thousands of Illinoisans. The so-called Clean Slate Act has failed twice before, but activists see renewed fiscal messaging as the key to reinvigorating the campaign. This time, the bill's sponsor points to a 'diverse coalition of stakeholders' and backing from business groups as signs Illinois could become the 13th state to enact similar legislation. 'This is something I've worked on for six long years, and now we have law enforcement and the business community — folks like the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the Illinois Manufacturers Association — all on board,' Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, said in an interview. 'Not as a neutral party, but they are proponents. They want to see this bill passed.' Like earlier proposals, Senate Bill 1784 would require law enforcement agencies to automatically seal records for nonviolent criminal convictions twice a year — Jan. 1 and July 1. The records would no longer be public, although law enforcement and state's attorneys would retain access. Gordon-Booth has sponsored Clean Slate legislation twice before — once in 2021 and again in 2023 — but neither bill progressed past committee. Just a few days before the 2025 legislative session concluded, she filed it again. Within two days, it passed the House mostly along partisan lines, and is headed for debate on the Senate floor. The session ends at midnight Saturday, although the bill could still pass after that deadline. People convicted of certain violent offenses — including sex crimes against minors, DUI, reckless driving and violent offenses that require sex offender registration — would be ineligible to have their records sealed. 'I want to make this very, very clear: Serious criminal records are not eligible for automated sealing,' Gordon-Booth said during floor debate. Gordon-Booth argued that conviction records trap formerly incarcerated individuals in a state of perpetual punishment, eclipsing access to employment, housing and educational opportunities. She said Clean Slate would remove these barriers, helping system-impacted people reintegrate into society instead of recidivating. Paul Rothschild, managing director of operations for the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishment — a group that advocates for the rights of people with criminal records — said he agrees. He said the justice system fails to follow through on its own promise: Once someone has served their time, they are entitled to a second chance. 'We believe that people should be accountable for the crimes that they commit. But we also believe there is an implied covenant that when they finish, they're supposed to be returned to the world made whole, and that covenant is not being kept by society. They're being forever subjugated in that lower caste, that lower class,' Rothschild said. More than 3 million Illinoisans have arrest or conviction records, and an estimated 921,000 people are eligible for 'sealing relief' — but only about 10% actually petition to have their records cleared, according to statistics from Live Free Illinois, a grassroots organization aimed at reforming the state criminal justice system and part of the Clean Slate Illinois steering committee, which coordinates the campaign's messaging and advocacy efforts. The bill would automate the process for individuals with nonviolent convictions to have their records sealed once they have served their sentences, completed probation, and remained crime-free. Many eligible individuals are deterred by steep fines, complex paperwork and long waiting periods, Gordon-Booth said. The 'burdensome' process has contributed to massive court backlogs, according to Clean Slate Illinois. 'It's going to automate the process, so this way we don't have to go through that whole trying to get the paperwork, trying to go through all the rigmarole,' said Chauncy Stockdale, who was formerly incarcerated and is now a member of the Live Free Illinois Fellowship, a reentry program that supports returning citizens. The measure passed the House 81-28, with five Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure. No Democrats voted against the bill. During debate on the House floor, Minority Floor Leader Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, voiced concerns about the tentative $18 million price tag, and whether the state is capable of fully funding the policy in the years ahead, leaving counties to cover the cost. 'If this isn't funded, we're either going to be sending a large unfunded mandate to our counties, or we're making a promise to 2.1 million people that will not be fulfilled without any funding,' he said. Gordon-Booth detailed a three year 'implementation ramp,' which would give the state time to identify funding sources for the local circuit clerks. She also said the Illinois State Police would absorb the initial costs and emphasized the state's commitment to supporting circuit clerks in the rollout phase. 'It is our full intention to provide clerks with all that they need to implement this,' she said. 'We are not going to send an unfunded mandate to our local governments.' On April 10, nearly 300 members, supporters and advocates from Live Free Illinois chapters gathered in front of the Abraham Lincoln monument in Springfield for Advocacy Day, calling on lawmakers to introduce the Clean Slate Act. Live Free Illinois — a faith-based nonprofit focused on ending gun violence and mass incarceration — organizes Black congregations to push for systemic change. The organization is involved in the broad-based Clean Slate steering committee, which also includes the Fully Free Campaign, the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, and Impact for Equity. The day before, Muslim leaders also advocated for Clean Slate legislation at Illinois Muslim Action Day. Beyond criminal justice reform, advocates pushed a new messaging angle this year to usher the legislation across the finish line: Clean Slate could boost Illinois' economy. As of April, Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, at 4.8% — above the national average of 4.2%, according to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jerika Richardson, senior vice president for equitable justice and strategic initiatives at the National Urban League, said the act would open doors for thousands of people who have been barred from work because of background checks. 'There are so many employers and businesses across this country who are struggling to find the workers that they need, and part of the reason is because these records are barriers,' Richardson said. 'If Illinois passes the Clean Slate Act, you won't have to worry about businesses going to another state or leaving the country.' An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2021, expanded legal protections for state workers by prohibiting discrimination based on criminal convictions, in addition to arrest records. Yet many say they continue to face employment hurdles despite the law. People with conviction histories earn an average of 25% less than those with clean records — a gap the National Urban League says costs the state billions of dollars in lost wages. According to a news release from the National Urban League, the Clean Slate Act could generate more than $4.7 billion in lost wages for Illinois, easing economic disparities and addressing labor shortages. Gordon-Booth echoed Richardson's point, adding that her office frequently hears from constituents who are missing out on life-changing chances. 'I get calls from people saying, 'I had an opportunity to get my dream job, and it fell through because of something that I did when I was 18 or 19.' And we're talking about folks that are in their 30s,' Gordon-Booth said. 'They have not gone through the process of hiring a lawyer, going through the court-mandated process, and folks are losing out.' Reilly Cook is a graduate student in journalism with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, and a fellow in its Medill Illinois News Bureau working in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois House passes bill to automatically seal criminal records of nonviolent offenders
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois House has passed the Clean Slate Act, which would automatically seal criminal records of those convicted of nonviolent felonies. The bill, which has been debated in the statehouse for years, would seal the records for offenders only if they served their punishment and were not convicted of another crime within the three years following their release. Currently, convicted criminals are barred from many careers and certifications due to their felony convictions. Assistant Majority Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-92nd Dist), who authored the bill, said, 'After more than six years working on this legislation, I am thrilled to see the Clean Slate Act pass the House today. Too many Illinoisans who have served their time and paid their dues to society are still struggling to get access to the housing and employment opportunities that can set them on the pathway to success. By automatically sealing records for nonviolent offenders, we can help these individuals rebuild their lives, improve public safety, and address the workforce shortages facing businesses across our state.' The bill now heads to the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois Clean Slate Act aims to make criminal records of nonviolent offenders invisible
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois lawmakers have less than two weeks to pass the Clean Slate Act, which would seal the records of nonviolent criminals. The bill, which has been debated in the statehouse for years, would seal the records for offenders only if they served their punishment and were not convicted of another crime within the three years following their release. Another bill already exists, but the Clean Slate Act would make the process automatic for anyone who qualifies. Currently, convicted criminals are barred from many careers and certifications due to their felony convictions. The state's legislative session ends on May 31st, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
10-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
A federal Clean Slate Act will enhance public safety and grow our economy
For many of us, spring is a moment of new beginnings, which is why April is designated as Second Chance Month. This time is dedicated to those who are still dealing with the consequences of a criminal record. They are, unfortunately, still being defined by the worst day of their lives. Ninety four percent of employers use background checks to screen out applicants with records. Ninety percent of landlords use background checks to screen out applicants with records. And 72 percent of colleges and universities use background checks to screen out applicants with records. Last year, I participated in a 'Hill Day' organized by The Clean Slate Initiative. Joined by bipartisan policy advocates from a diverse group of organizations, I escorted people to House and Senate offices so they could share their lived experiences with members of Congress and congressional staff while advocating for a federal Clean Slate Act. As vice president of Due Process Institute and a long-time conservative advocate, lobbying is certainly not new to me, but this experience was personal. My uncle, a recovering addict, was one of the many impacted people who came to D.C. to have their voices heard. Watching them share their experiences was moving. I hope it served to educate lawmakers about the many barriers that a record sets in front of anyone desperately trying to turn their life around. More than 70 million Americans have a record — either of an arrest or a conviction. That's almost as many Americans as have a four-year college degree. This includes people who were arrested but never prosecuted and even many who were ultimately deemed innocent of any wrongdoing. It includes people whose crimes were nonviolent or were a result of their drug dependence. For most people, these records are unnecessary barriers to those seeking to live productive lives because they prevent people from finding meaningful work, obtaining housing and receiving higher education. Sealing a record is the key to providing someone with a meaningful opportunity to move forward. The Clean Slate Act would streamline the sealing of records for those who have been acquitted, exonerated or were arrested but never ultimately had criminal charges filed against them in the federal system. It would also seal records for thoseconvicted of simple drug possession and low-level, nonviolent marijuana offenses one year after the completion of their sentence (including any term of probation or supervision). The legislation would also allow people convicted of certain nonviolent federal offenses to petition the court to ask to seal their records, with the prosecuting U.S. Attorney's Office and, if applicable, victims of the offense receiving notification of the petition. Importantly, while records will be sealed for most purposes, law enforcement and courts would still have access to an individual's records. Republican and Democratic state lawmakers across our nation have recognized the sound public policy behind ensuring people with certain arrest or conviction records have a meaningful second chance; today, more than 40 states have some form of record-sealing or expungement process. A dozen states — including Colorado, Michigan, Utah, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma — have adopted state-level clean slate laws. Now, it's time for Congress to act, ensuring that those who meet the requirements can receive a fair shot at building a better life for themselves. Still, introducing the Clean Slate Act is only the first step in the process. We have a long way to go before the bill can help millions, and in our way stands the reactionary tendency of some in Congress to oppose criminal legal system reform. Too many in Congress weaponize the issue of public safety. Unfortunately, the politics of fear has a market, and those who aim for political advantage are eager to push narratives that are easily debunked by available data. Lost in the rhetorical warfare are people who desperately want a better life for themselves and their families but find barriers to gainful employment and safe housing. Keeping these barriers in place only increases the risk of recidivism to the detriment of public safety. Public safety is strengthened when individuals have a real chance to succeed. Having a job is critical to breaking the cycle of crime and keeping communities safe. Simply put, employment is among the strongest evidence-based solutions for public safety. Record-sealing is also good for America's employers — particularly small businesses that are desperately looking for workers. In January, there were 913,000 more job openings than there were workers actively seeking a job. The labor shortage that we face — driven by our aging population — is only going to get worse. America needs more workers to grow our economy, but too many barriers to hiring exist for the waiting workforce of skilled workers with a record. Record-sealing opens doors for more people to fully participate in our economy. As a society, we should want to provide a path forward for people so they can support themselves and their families as a matter of fairness and forgiveness. But we also need to understand that failing to provide that path forward hurts all of us in the long run.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Central Illinois advocates highlight Second Chance Month, Clean Slate bill
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WMBD) — Representatives from the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishment and House of Hope Peoria are bringing awareness to April being Second Chance Month and the Clean Slate Bill. The purpose of Second Chance Month is to highlight the issues people with criminal records face when trying to reenter society. 'People that have made mistakes deserve a second chance,' said Toy Beasley, central Illinois regional coordinator for Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments. Beasley is a supporter of the Clean Slate Bill. 'Clean Slate Bill states once a person completes their parole or probation three years after their release their record will be automatically cleared,' said Beasley. In several Facebook posts, State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth said she has been working on the Clean Slate Act and will 'move the legislation through the General Assembly and onto the Governor's desk for signature.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
