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A group known as the Clean Slate Illinois Coalition is working to establish a streamlined process for automatically expunging criminal records.

About The CSIC

The Clean Slate Illinois Coalition (CSIC) is comprised of members from several social justice organizations that are hoping to establish a Clean Slate Act. If successful, the Act would create expunction opportunities and related benefits for people who have lower level criminal records. Their goal is to have a law passed during 2025.

According to the CSIC website, more than 2.2 million residents of Illinois have arrest records or convictions that should be eligible for expunction. The site notes that the process of getting a record expunged is difficult and expensive. Further, the Coalition explains that an easier process is necessary because having any type of criminal history can create significant barriers to obtaining employment, education and housing.

Primary goals of the CSIC include:

• Establishing automatic relief. They hope to pass a law which automates the process of expunging eligible criminal records.
• Ending permanent punishment. Their goal is to prevent the ongoing punishment of people who have served their time and offer real second chances.
• Reducing recidivism. When people can get good jobs, they are less likely to commit additional offenses.

Proposed Economic Impact

The CSIC believes that passing a Clean Slate Act could bolster the economy by $4.7 billion annually. They suggest that by expanding access to second chances, many more people will join the workforce. This would help individuals who are attempting to re-enter society and businesses that are in need of a larger workforce.

Expectations Of Automation

Currently, the expungement process in Illinois is said to be slow and inefficient. Residents must petition to have eligible records expunged. The CSIC website claims that it would take 154 years to expunge all the records that are currently being considered.

By automating the expunction process, people in Illinois would be able to have their criminal records expunged faster and more efficiently. They would not have to go through a lengthy petition process, which could be a deterrent for many. The CSICs website claims that only about 10% of people who might be able to have their records expunged have even initiated the process, due to the difficulty and cost of fines.

What Employers Should Know

If the CSIC is successful in establishing legislation, employers in Illinois should be aware that they may not consider expunged records for employment purposes. People who had those records can act as if they never occurred.

One of the best ways for hiring managers to avoid inadvertently reviewing data that is no longer publicly available is to work with a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) that is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). CRAs must undergo a third-party audit and prove they follow reasonable procedures to only provide current, reportable records before they may become accredited.

Running Background Checks

Regardless of where your organization is based, if you need employment background checks, then please contact us. Our friendly, experienced team can help you customize screening packages based on your specific needs, applicable laws and industry regulations.

As an accredited CRA with 25 years of experience, we are leaders in our industry who can help you make informed decisions, maintain safe workplaces and complete your due diligence practices. Our team is available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm PT.