Even though employers in Illinois are not supposed to take arrest record information into account, job offers are routinely withdrawn for reasons as insignificant as an arrest record or a civil ordinance violation for underage drinking. Even as they struggle to fill positions, employer still reject applicants with criminal records. Until you’ve expunged or sealed your record, here is what you can do.
Read MoreA year ago, to no one’s surprise, Illinois Gov. Pritzker granted no clemency petitions in the first few months of 2020. When he commenced issuing executive clemency decisions, starting in March, Gov. Pritzker focused solely on commuting prison sentences. Over a three-month period, he commuted 20 prison sentences to time served.
Read MoreA former client of mine was getting ready to sign up to sit for the nursing exam but discovered that she wasn’t sure how to answer the criminal history question on the exam’s application form, having previously sealed her adult criminal case and expunged her juvenile history. I spoke to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), the agency that licenses nurses and other health care professionals, and here is what they told me.
Read MoreRecently, I spoke with a women who had been trying to find work as a commercial truck driver. For some reason, no one was interested in hiring her. Court file revealed that Jenny had been sentenced to six months supervision -- a “deferred” sentence – and successfully completed it. In layperson terms, that meant Jenny did not have a DUI conviction on her record. Nevertheless, under the Illinois Secretary of State’s (SOS) record retention rules, even when someone receives supervision for a DUI, the infraction remains on someone’s official driving record for life.
Read MoreIllinois made it easier for someone with a criminal background to apply for a professional or occupational license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Three years later, the law’s changes remain largely unknown to those who were intended to benefit from them. Contact A Bridge Forward to schedule a free 20-minute consultation to assist you in exploring how best to maximize your odds of obtaining a occupational or professional license even with a criminal record.
Read MoreFix professional licensing issues - Several months ago I was contacted by a woman who applied for a licensed professional counselor (LPC) license. As with most license application forms, it included a criminal history question. She answered "no" when the correct answer was "yes". The state licensing board accused Martha of providing “false, misleading statements” on her application.
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