March 13, 2017
Categories: Expungement

CBS Chicago

It may soon be easier to get juvenile arrest records expunged in Illinois.

Angel Gandy, 19, was arrested when she was 16-years old. WBBM’s Lisa Fielding reports.

“I got my first juvenile case three years ago and thought my career was over,” she said.

Gandy has since completed the after school program at the Lawndale Christian Legal Center and turned her life around.

“I’ve seen my peers who weren’t able to get jobs due to their records,” she said. “I wasn’t able to get my case expunged because it took too long.”

Right now under Illinois law, only 3 in 1,000 juvenile arrests are expunged.

“No one should have to be held back and feel discrimination because of something they did as young teenagers. We all make mistakes and some of us want to change,” said Gandy.

Under the proposed Youth Opportunity and Fairness Act, Gandy and others like her could get their records erased quicker with less red tape.

Continue reading.

Source: JusticeCenter