As of January 1, 2015, certain juvenile records will be automatically expunged by the Illinois State Police (ISP). This is a good news for teenagers who, at some point, will visit the police station -- and not on a school field trip. The new law acknowledges a sad truth: even a juvenile record can upend someone's job prospects years later.
Read MoreHow to expunge an arrest / criminal record in Illinois. Earlier this year I wrote about Illinois’ Ban-the-Box Law, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2015. I’d like to point out a few things I did not mention. First, the law includes a broad exception for employers who are prohibited under federal or state law from hiring someone who has committed certain criminal offenses. This exception covers school districts, law enforcement agencies, and healthcare providers, to name a few. Thus, if you are looking for work in these job sectors you will be asked to disclose your criminal history on a job application.
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