Type: Title:
Committee(s) Assignment:
Cappleman (46) Pawar (47) Osterman (48) Moore (49) Smith (43) Resolution
Call for hearing(s) concerning costs for sealing or expunging criminal records
Committee on Human Relations
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RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Section 5.2 ofthe Illinois Criminal Investigation Act ("the Act"), codified at 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, establishes a legal process to enable persons to seal or expunge their criminal record; and
WHEREAS, In Illinois, a person's criminal record contains his or her full arrest record;
and
WHEREAS, As a result, in Illinois, even in cases where a person who was arrested is not prosecuted for the underlying criminal offense, or is prosecuted but is found "not guilty" ofthe underlying criminal offense, the person must take affirmative steps to have his or her criminal record sealed or expunged; and
WHEREAS, Despite good faith efforts by The Office ofthe State Appellate Defender to improve its website to help persons clear their criminal records on their own and without the need for an attorney, the process of getting one's criminal record sealed or expunged in such cases remains daunting and is widely perceived as difficult and overwhelming; and
WHEREAS, It is costly to get one'is criminal record sealed or expunged. Filing fees, which vary from county to county, must be^ paid at the courthouse. A $60 processing fee is payable to the Illinois State Police. In addition, some local law enforcement assess their own processing fees. And, even though it is notjnecessary to enlist the aid of an attorney to seal or expunge a criminal record, many people nevertheless feel compelled to do so, thereby adding significantly to the overall cost of this process; and
WHEREAS, Many individuals, who were arrested but never prosecuted for the underlying criminal offense, or who were arrested but were found "not guilty" of the underlying criminal offense, will benefit if the Criminal Investigation Act is amended to make it easier and less costly for persons in this situation to have their criminal record sealed or expunged; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this 8th day of October, 2014, do hereby direct the Chicago City Council Committee on Human Relations to hold an informational hearing on this matter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Governor Patrick Quinn; Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton; Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno; Speaker of the House MichaeJ^JTMadigan; and Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, as a sign of our concern yfith this iiripertant issue.
Alderman Emma Mitts, 37th Ward
Alaerman JoAr
Jo Ann Thomson, 16th Ward
'Ward
Alderman Michelle Harris, 8 Ward
Aldehtfanlona Lane, 18* Ward
Alderman ProcoJoe Morano, 1st Ward
Afderman Matt O'Shfel, 19th Ward
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Ajdertpan Ricardo Munoz, 21 Ward
jAjderman .fames A. Balcer, 11th Ward /
Alderman AnenETReboyras, 30 Ward
Alderman Roderick Sawyer, 6r Ward Alderman Natashia Holmes, 7 V
AldermartAwfhony Beale, 9th Ward
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Aldermaijf\lohn A. Pope, lOyWard
Alderman* George a\ Cardenas, 12th Ward
Alderman Marty Quinn, 13 Ward
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Afde^ma/Ttoichael Chafer, if< Ward Alderman Daniel. £ Solis,^5th Ward
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man Roberto fft^emtfupe1 Ward UJ^ljof- SiA/^-fy
Alderman Scot/Waguespack, 32nd Ward
Latasha R. Thomas, 17th Ward
Alderman Edward M. Burke, 14th Ward
Alderman Toni Foulkes, 15 Ward AJtferman Jojrtrfn^hompsijln, 16th Ward
Aldermar\Ray SuareQ 31st Ward
Alderman Deborah L. Mell, 33rd Ward Alderman Carrie M. Austin, 34th Ward
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Alderman Nicholas Sposaro, 36 Wan
Alderrnan Emma Mitts, 37tn Ward
Alderman Tinfothy M. Cullerton, 38th Ward Alderman Margaret La^idrioy&5T7Ward Alderman Patrick J. O'Connor, 40th Ward
Aldejuaoan Mary ^O'Connor, 41st Ward
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