SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — On February 5, a coalition of Illinois leaders, advocates, and community members gathered at the Illinois State Capitol Building Rotunda to rally support for the Clean Slate Bill.
This legislation aims to modernize the state’s record-sealing system by replacing the outdated petition-based model with an automated system. The bill seeks to remove barriers for over 1.5 million Illinoisans with old criminal records, fostering economic stability across the state.
According to the Paper Prisons Initiative, an estimated 73% of people in Illinois with an arrest or conviction record are eligible to have their records sealed under the current petition-based process. This represents 2.2 million Illinoisans who have met the requirements for a second chance but continue to be denied employment, housing, and other opportunities because of a past record.
“As a small business owner, I know firsthand the value of second chances,” said Pamela Frazier, owner of All in One Laundry Center & Services. “Convictions can lower a person’s wages by up to 52%, costing Illinois $4.7 billion in lost wages every year. Clean Slate policies are a solution to this issue.”
In addition to economic benefits, the bill aims to promote public safety by removing barriers to meaningful employment, housing, and other opportunities. Donnell Williams, a member leader at the Workers Center for Racial Justice, called for action, saying, “We don’t want another task force to talk about the causes of recidivism. We don’t want another think tank to talk about the barriers to re-entry. We don’t want a seat at the table, we want to help build the table for our own resources that our community needs. We need automatic expungement now! We need good jobs now!”
The Illinois Clean Slate Coalition highlighted the bill’s potential to transform lives. “Illinois stands at the forefront of a transformative opportunity to lead the nation in criminal justice reform,” said the Clean Slate Illinois Steering Committee in a statement. “Clean Slate legislation has the power to unlock economic potential, strengthen public safety, and end the cycle of permanent punishments for millions.”
The Clean Slate Bill aims to automate the record clearance process, ensuring that when a person becomes eligible for relief, their record is cleared without the need for a lengthy process, attorney fees, or court appearances. This effort seeks to eliminate the continuous punishments that hinder individuals from accessing opportunities in employment, housing, and education.
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