As the Illinois General Assembly approaches its deadline for passing legislation this year, two bills are worth watching if you or someone you know has a criminal background. If passed, one bill would permit more convicted felons to seal their records, while the other bill will make it easier for someone with a criminal record to obtain a professional or occupational license.
Read MoreFollowing his first year in office, I posted an article about Governor Bruce Rauner’s record of granting clemency. Since then, little has changed. Governor Rauner granted the same percentage of petitions in 2016 as he did in 2015: a mere 3.6%. In 2016, Governor Rauner granted 42 petitions, while denying 1,110. The governor’s clemency approval rate is a far cry from what it used to be. Under Governor Pat Quinn, one-quarter to one-third of petitions were granted annually.
Read MoreDuring 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.
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