On Aug. 22, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law a bill that prevents the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from using irrelevant criminal convictions as a basis for denying licenses to applicants seeking to work as barbers, cosmetologists, hair braiders, estheticians, nail technicians, roofing business owners or funeral directors.
A recent Illinois Policy Institute-commissioned poll finds 4 in 5 registered Illinois voters – including overwhelming majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats – support reforms to reduce the number of nonviolent offenders in prison.
A poll of Illinois registered voters finds 76 percent want to remove occupational licensing barriers for ex-offenders.
A new Illinois Policy Institute report discusses a recent poll showing broad concern about the fairness and effectiveness of Illinois’ criminal-justice system and strong support for reforms to improve it.
Eliminating barriers to opportunity would benefit both ex-offenders and the state of Illinois.
A bill that has been sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner would hamstring the state in subcontracting for medical services for inmates of the Illinois Department of Corrections, compromising the state’s ability to provide the best, most cost-effective care.
Effective immediately, possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana in Illinois is punishable by a fine, instead of a misdemeanor with possible jail time.
In a July 11 resolution, Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety urged the General Assembly to pass “meaningful sealing reform” to help ex-offenders re-enter the job market and their communities more successfully.
The city of Chicago paid over $146 million in police misconduct and public safety claims in 2013 and 2014, according to the city inspector general’s report.
The New Hampshire legislature has passed an overhaul of asset forfeiture laws to protect rights of innocent property owners; Illinois should do the same.
If signed, HB 6328 will remove expungement fees in Cook County for those who were arrested but never convicted.
Illinois police have taken in a total of $72 million in seized property over the past two years.
It’s easy to get cynical about Illinois politics. Frustration is the norm in Springfield. Optimism is an emotional liability. But Lisa Creason doesn’t play by those rules. When it comes to politics in the Land of Lincoln, the single mom from Decatur just pulled off the biggest underdog story of 2016. She drove to Springfield...