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State of IL Record Expungement Information
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EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION Strategy Committee
* Committee Objective
* Committee Participants
* HB300 (Illinois House Bill 300)
* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Answers
* How Illinois Citizens Can Help
* Contact Information for Additional Information
* COMMITTEE OBJECTIVE
The EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION Strategy Committee consists of members from a number of organizations located in communities throughout Illinois, who joined forces to support the legislative efforts of State Representative Constance A. "Connie" Howard [(D)- Chicago, Cook County, 32nd District], who is assisting thousands of Illinoisans who have arrest and/or conviction records.
The Committee supports Representative Howard as she seeks passage of state legislation that would amend the "Illinois Criminal code" by expanding the categories of offenses that would be expungeable; thereby, giving a "second chance" to Illinois individuals who had negative interaction with law enforcement agencies.
Representative Howard's effort in the current legislative session began with a package of bills that included offenses already expungeable, and those regarding the less serious categories of "Misdemeanors" and "Class 4 Felonies." Excluded from consideration in this legislation are offenses relating to violence, sexual acts, fire arms, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
* COMMITTEE PARTICIPANTS
EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION Strategy Committee participating organizations include:
- African-American Family Commission
- African Travel Advisors
- Black United Fund of Illinois
- Center for Inner-city Studies
- Centro Sin Fronteras
- Chicago Association of Black Social Workers
- First Defense Legal Aid
- Illinois Legislative Black Caucus
- Institute of Criminal Justice
- Kennedy-King College
- Outreach Church of God in Christ (COGIC)
- P.T. Whyte Publications
- Paternal Involvement Project
- Prison Action Committee (PAC)
- Project Jobs
- Puerto Rican Cultural Center
- Rocks Committee
- Safer Foundation
- 7th Congressional District Office
- South Side Empowerment Zone
- TASC, Inc.
- Task Force for Black Political Empowerment
- Taylor Organization Youth Services
- YHWH Nation of Obedience
- Youth Services Project, Inc.
* HB300 (ILLINOIS HOUSE BILL 300)
One bill in the original package (House Bill 300) has been amended and passed from the Illinois House of Representatives to the Illinois Senate, and is currently in the Illinois Senate's Rules Committee. Legislation supporters are hopeful that the bill will be approved for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
HB300 does two things:
1. HB300 expedites the expungement process for Illinois individuals whose convictions are "Reversed."
2. HB300 establishes, within the Illinois Appellate Defender's Office, a program that helps Illinois individuals with expungeable records to learn about and "navigate" through the process of obtaining and filing the necessary forms, including interaction with the appropriate agencies. This program would feature an 800 telephone number, an Internet Website for information and form-downloading, printed materials to be distributed through public and private agencies in Illinois, and volunteer attorneys in locations statewide.
A copy of HB300, and other legislation, can be found at: www.legis.state.il.us/
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* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Answers
Question #1: Why is Illinois State Representative Howard sponsoring "EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION?"
Answer: She is concerned about the plight of those tens of thousands Illinois ex-offenders who completed their sentences, but are yet unable to regain all the rights and priviledges promised to Illinois citizens. Although ex-offenders ARE allowed to vote, they are:
a) ...more likely (than not) to be denied access to employment with liveable wages.
b) ...denied work in most government jobs, hospitals, nursing centers, and nursery schools.
c) ...barred from becoming foster parents and adopting children.
d) ...denied grant monies for college.
Question #2: Does Illinois Law allow "all" individuals having negative interaction with the criminal justice system to have their records expunged?
Answer: No, only "some" records are expungeable, including:
a) ...criminal records where a charge has been dismissed with "No Conviction" occurring.
b) ...criminal records resulting from "Court-Ordered Supervision."
c) ...criminal records resulting from first-time drug offenses categorized under Sections 710 and 1410, with a sentence of "Probation."
d) ...criminal records whose convictions are "Reversed" because of a court finding of "Actual Innocence."
Question #3: What must an individual do to get an "expungeable" record expunged?
Answer: Contact Representative Constance A. "Connie" Howard's office to obtain an Expungement Packet. (See contact information below.)
Question #4: Are any "Convictions" expungeable in Illinois?
Answer: No. A criminal record can only be expunged if the conviction is "Reversed;" however, the expungement process is not an automatic process and takes a very long time.
* HOW ILLINOIS CITIZENS CAN HELP
The EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION Strategy Committee is seeking support from all concerned Illinois Citizens, in order to maximize the possibilities of the passaged of HB300 in Illinois State Government (along with its companion bills HB301, HB302, and HB304).
Needed support includes:
1. ...contacting Senate President James "Pate" Phillip [(R)-23, DuPage County, Addison, IL] at (630) 941-0094 (district), (630) 832-2356 (fax), or (217) 782-3840 (Springfield). Ask President Phillip to allow HB300 to be assigned to the "Illinois Judiciary Committee" for consideration.
2. ...contacting members of the "Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee" when HB300 is assigned to that committee. Names and contact information for committee members will be provided at the appropriate time.
3. ...contacting the other 59 Illinois senators, seeking their commitment to HB300 sponsorship and support. Names and contact information for Illinois senators may be obtained at the Illinois State Government website: (www.state.il.us).
4. ...your assistance. If you have, or someone you know has an arrest and/or conviction record, (or if you merely want to be supportive) please join us and contribute your time and talents to this effort -- which is designed to change Illinois State Government Law in order to help a great many sincere Illinois citizens become contributors (with dignity) to our great society. You will be helping to ease the problems of "homelessness," "joblessness," and (so-called) "deadbeat parents" in Illinois.
5. ...circulating the Illinois "EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION PETITION" and soliciting signatures of support (as many as possible statewide) for Representative Connie Howard's Illinois Expungement Legislation (HB300). (Petitions can be obtained from Representative Howard's office. See contact information below.)
6. ...traveling to Springfield (in January 2002) with Representative Connie Howard when HB300 is to be reviewed for passage. (Your activist demonstration presence in large numbers impacts the passage or non-passage of laws reviewed in the Illinois State Government Legislature. Therefore, bring as many people with you to Springfield -- and as often as it may require in order to get HB300 successfully made into Illinois State Law, so Illinoisans obtain means of making a decent living for themselves and their dependents.)
7. ...registering to vote and exercising your voting priviledge in every available election. Once registered, you can vote to put people in office who will make laws and conduct the business of government to meet your special needs. Then encourage others to do the same. (Call your local Board of Elections to determine your eligibility requirements for voter registration and participation.) Also, become a deputy voter registrar and/or an election day judge in your locality, in order to protect the voting apparatus in Illinois.
8. ...spreading this website information throughout the Illinois community of persons needing this assistance and their support networks.
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Contact for Additional Information:
Constance A. "Connie" Howard,
State Representative (Illinois 32nd District)
c/o: Mr. Mike O'Connor
2094-M Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-6476 (phone)
(217) 782-0952 (fax);
or: Mr. Mike O'Connor
8949 S. Stony Island
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 356-6210 (phone)
(773) 356-6217 (fax);
or: Mr. Algie Crivens, III
(773) 734-8583 (fax).
Internet: (4 sites)
conhow@webtv.net
or: choward32@worldnet.att.net
or: www.housedem.state.il.us./LinksFrames.html
or Website: http://home.att.net/~choward32/
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Illinois Legislative Links (click any below)
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Please attend the Saturday Strategy Sessions, which focus on committee reports and statewide coalition mobilization updates for legislative issue visibility, in the student lounge of Chicago Illinois' Northeastern Illinois University Center for Inner-City Studies (at 700 E. Oakwood). Remaining 2001 meeting dates are: Sept-15-2001 from 1pm until 5pm; Oct-(06 & 20)-2001 from 1pm until 3pm; Nov-(20 & 24)-2001; and from 1pm until 3pm Dec-(08 & 29)-2001.
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