Chicago – Each day nearly 3 million men and women in Illinois are denied decent employment and housing due to prior convictions. Today, legislation supported by Senator Emil Jones III was signed into law that allows the courts to seal criminal records for eight non-violent offences. Current law and practices prevent hardworking, law abiding individuals the chance to move forward from past mistakes.

“Too often when a court hands down a two-year or three-year sentence, society permanently stamps that ex-offender as criminal,” State Senator Emil Jones said. “A fair criminal justice system is based on the premise that when you commit a crime, you pay your debt to society, and once you’ve done your time, you can start over.”