Crawford Expands Sealing of Records for System-Involved Individuals

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Crawford, D-Chicago, helped pass a measure last Thursday to build on previous work to automatically seal the records of certain qualifying, formerly-incarcerated individuals. House Bill 1836 clarifies records ineligible for sealing and ensures that the Illinois State Police (ISP) can conform to the new legislation.

“For far too long, offenses made decades ago and for certain low-level offenses by today’s standards are being held against formerly incarcerated individuals, but not anymore, ” Crawford said. “This legislation will be a profound leap forward in giving system involved individuals the second chance we have always promised them, by automatically sealing qualifying records. Too many in my community – and those across Illinois – are disregarded, because jobs see a record and toss out their applications. It’s unjust and holds communities back from reaching their full potential. I am proud to have joined my colleagues and advocates in making this great step toward a more compassionate future.”

The Crawford-backed House Bill 1836 would transition the sealing process for certain, qualifying criminal and petty offense records from a petition-based to automated process initiated by the Illinois State Police. The sealing process would begin at the time that the record becomes eligible. Certain cases, such as, but not limited to, murder, sex offenses, bodily harm, no contact orders, class x felonies and robbery do not qualify for sealing. All eligible records going back to Jan. 1, 1970 would be automatically sealed.

House Bill 1836 applies specifically to sealing records, not expunging them. Records that are sealed, while off limits to the public, may still be accessed by law enforcement and prosecutors, if necessary, in the future.

Timelines for the sealing process vary on offense.