Every year unsuspecting U.S. visitors are turned away at Canada’s border based on criminal inadmissibility -- having a criminal record. Whether your criminal record will bar you from Canada depends on if the Canadian equivalent of the crime you committed is an indictable or hybrid offense. An indictable or a hybrid offense is defined as a crime subject to a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Read MoreRecently, I wrote about several Chance Second bills that were making their way through the Illinois General Assembly. These bills would benefit people who have a criminal background. One bill would keep someone from getting a criminal record (decriminalizing marijuana). This post summarizes the remaining noteworthy bills awaiting Governor Rauner’s signature.
Read MoreIf a retail merchant believes an employee is stealing, besides getting fired, there is a good chance the employee’s name will be reported to a retail theft database. These databases are used by U.S. retail merchants to check on whether a job applicant has a history of stealing on the job.
Read MoreCriminal Background Check Illinois. I am often asked “Should I tell a potential employer about my criminal record?” I believe there is a benefit to telling an employer about your criminal record. That does not mean it is the first topic you discuss. Remember, a job interview is like a first date: you want to make a favorable impression right off the bat.
Read MoreRecently, a former client who received clemency in Illinois asked me if he could answer “no” to a criminal history question on the job application (“Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”) for a part-time job in Wisconsin. After asking Ben (not his real name) a few preliminary questions, I told him I needed to do some research. Part of the difficulty in answering Ben’s question is that the benefits associated with clemency in Wisconsin are not the same as they are in Illinois.
Read MoreA House Bill (HB 218) awaiting Governor Rauner’s signature would decriminalize possession of small amounts (15 grams) of marijuana. Instead of being arrested and charged with a misdemeanor crime, individuals would be ordered to pay a fine. It would be akin to getting a parking ticket. If someone cited for marijuana possession under HB 218 also has drug paraphernalia, s/he can be fined for both infractions. In all other cases, possession of drug paraphernalia will still be treated as a criminal offense.
Read More