Pritzker signs law aiming to help juveniles clear their criminal record

Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker officially signed a bill into law on Friday that starts the expungement process immediately after a juvenile is released from detention.

The Juvenile Court Act has been amended by a bill that mandates state courts to expunge the records of individuals charged as juveniles, two years after they have completed their sentences.

The bill also speeds up the expungement process by scheduling expungement hearings when they are released.

Pritzker said the law could create more opportunities for young people who have made mistakes.

“It is no secret that the procedures of our court system can be difficult to navigate. People deserve to know what resources and rights are available to them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By cutting red tape and creating a process where expungement is more accessible, we can create more opportunities for more people who perhaps made a mistake when they were young, as we all have. This is a step in the right direction and I am proud to sign this legislation.”

Illinois becomes the 23rd state to pass a law like this. The law is going to be in effect on January 1, 2025.

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