We the undersigned, demand a simple and inexpensive expungement process to ensure juvenile records are cleared.
The current expungement process is so complicated and expensive that according to the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Chicago Police arrested 18,287 youth under 17 years old in 2009 and only 437 juvenile records were expunged. The majority of these arrests are for minor offenses.
The failure to automatically clear these arrest records and the difficult process to obtain an expungement holds back youth in their transition to college, in applying for the military, and in seeking employment.
Specifically, we demand:
1.) That no local law enforcement agencies can forward juvenile records to the State Police.
2.) That an individual can petition the court to expunge their juvenile record anytime, for any reason, free of any fiscal or time constraints.
Example: A record will be able to be eligible to be expunged if a youth is arrested but the petition is dismissed OR if a petition is never filed
3.) That a juvenile record is automatically expunged if a person is 18 years old and has had two years without an arrest. Law enforcement agencies would be responsible for expunging these records.
4.) To explicitly state the Illinois Human Rights Act to include civil rights violation if employers ask about expunged juvenile records
We encourage Illinois legislators and policy makers to address this critical issue to ensure our youth can successfully move forward in life.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 20, 2011
March 13, 2011
The reach of this petition has reached a level that necessitates direct engagement with legislative offices. I am finalizing a formal briefing packet to be delivered to committee chairs regarding the proposed changes to the expungement process.
Reached 100 supporters
February 23, 2011
7 Comments
seems like a total money grab by the courts. stop trapping these kids in the system.
The prices to get anything cleared are way too high. Keep it simple so people can actually get a fresh start.
Kids make mistakes. Why ruin their whole future over something they did when they were 14? Let them move on.
My brother had a rough time growing up but he turned his life around. He shouldnt be punished forever for a juvenile arrest.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS. How are they supposed to get jobs to support themselves with a record holding them back? Fix this now.
really important
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We the undersigned, demand a simple and inexpensive expungement process to ensure juvenile records are cleared.
The current expungement process is so complicated and expensive that according to the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Chicago Police arrested 18,287 youth under 17 years old in 2009 and only 437 juvenile records were expunged. The majority of these arrests are for minor offenses.
The failure to automatically clear these arrest records and the difficult process to obtain an expungement holds back youth in their transition to college, in applying for the military, and in seeking employment.
Specifically, we demand:
1.) That no local law enforcement agencies can forward juvenile records to the State Police.
2.) That an individual can petition the court to expunge their juvenile record anytime, for any reason, free of any fiscal or time constraints.
Example: A record will be able to be eligible to be expunged if a youth is arrested but the petition is dismissed OR if a petition is never filed
3.) That a juvenile record is automatically expunged if a person is 18 years old and has had two years without an arrest. Law enforcement agencies would be responsible for expunging these records.
4.) To explicitly state the Illinois Human Rights Act to include civil rights violation if employers ask about expunged juvenile records
We encourage Illinois legislators and policy makers to address this critical issue to ensure our youth can successfully move forward in life.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 20, 2011
March 13, 2011
The reach of this petition has reached a level that necessitates direct engagement with legislative offices. I am finalizing a formal briefing packet to be delivered to committee chairs regarding the proposed changes to the expungement process.
Reached 100 supporters
February 23, 2011
7 Comments
give them a real chance at a job. nobody is the same person they were as a teenager.
seems like a total money grab by the courts. stop trapping these kids in the system.
The prices to get anything cleared are way too high. Keep it simple so people can actually get a fresh start.
Kids make mistakes. Why ruin their whole future over something they did when they were 14? Let them move on.
My brother had a rough time growing up but he turned his life around. He shouldnt be punished forever for a juvenile arrest.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS. How are they supposed to get jobs to support themselves with a record holding them back? Fix this now.
really important
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give them a real chance at a job. nobody is the same person they were as a teenager.