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.