House bill would eliminate expungement fee for Illinoisans wrongfully arrested, convicted
Bill would let wrongly arrested clear their names without paying
Expungement and sealing fees cause individuals with erroneous criminal records to have a hard time moving forward with their lives.
2019 laws in review, Illinois lawmakers passed both nice and naughty bills
The Illinois General Assembly passed over 600 new laws in 2019. Some helped taxpayers, but many more hurt as they spent $85 billion while doing little to fix the pension crisis.
New Illinois law ends $120 fee to clear false criminal records in Cook County
A bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker will renew a pilot program in Cook County that waives fees for the expungement or sealing of criminal records for those who have been wrongfully accused of a crime.
Illinois lawmakers pass marijuana legalization
A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois is en route to the highest office in the state.
Illinois Senate unanimously votes to help wrongfully accused clear their name
Illinois state senators voted 53-0 to extend a pilot program that would waive the fee to expunge or seal records for those wrongfully arrested or charged with a crime in Cook County.
Illinoisans sentenced to life as ex-cons, even after offenses are no longer crimes
Illinois lawmakers’ approach to some minor criminal offenses has evolved, but not their treatment of the related criminal records that can haunt someone for life. A pair of bills could change that.
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Illinoisans convicted of possession of cannabis prior to the state’s 2016 decriminalization law could see those crimes expunged under a bill passed by the Illinois House.
Bill to expunge marijuana convictions passes House committee
House Bill 2367 would allow those convicted of marijuana possession before Illinois decriminalized marijuana to petition for expungement of their guilty plea or criminal conviction.
The gift of a second chance
Illinois has started to embrace second chances for people who have been through the criminal justice system.