During the most recent legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly considered several bills that would improve employment and licensing opportunities for people who have a criminal record or, in one case, keep someone from getting a criminal record.
Read MoreRecently, at a forum I gave on the impact of having a criminal background, I was asked if convicted felons have voting rights in Illinois. I gave an answer that I later learned was only partially correct.
Read MoreIn 2013, when Illinois became the last state to issue concealed carry permits, there was an increase in the number of people interested in applying for a F.O.I.D. card, a prerequisite to qualifying for a concealed carry permit. Some people soon discovered that they didn’t qualify for a F.O.I.D. card because of their past criminal history.
Read MoreLast year, after Governor Rauner ruled on his second batch of clemency petitions, in a June 2015 blog post, I wrote that there were few clues to explain why 7 people were granted clemency and 57 were denied clemency. Since that posting, Governor Rauner went on to grant an additional 30 petitions. All told, in 2015, 37 petitions were granted (3.6%) and 1001 petitions were denied. The governor’s office says it will review petitions for clemency on a regular basis. In 2015, petitions were granted in April, May, July, September, November, and December.
Read MoreI am always surprised to meet someone who still believes s/he is better off lying about their criminal record when applying for a job. With employer background checks a routine fact of life, the truth about your background comes out.
Read MoreBeginning in 2016, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County ("Court Clerk") will no longer be able to charge a 10% bond processing fee on a cash bond, regardless of the amount.
Currently, Illinois permits Court Clerks throughout the state to charge a bond processing fee equal to 10% of a criminal defendant's bond. On the recommendation of the Cook County Board, the Illinois General Assembly agreed to amend the law. The amendment caps bond processing fees at $100 in counties with 3 million or more residents.
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