CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Champaign area clergy and community leaders are gathering at Bethel AME Church to urge state officials to pass the Clean Slate Act.
The act aims to automate the process of record clearance in Illinois, which would make it easier for those with a criminal record easier to obtain relief. The Clean Slate Act would accelerate the record-sealing and expungement process for Illinoisans giving them access to employment, housing, and education. The rally takes place on Tuesday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m. with LIVE FREE Illinois.
“Too many individuals who have paid their debt to society continue to face lifelong punishment, even after they’ve earned the right to move forward,” said the Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, executive director of LIVE FREE Illinois. “The Clean Slate Act is about more than just clearing records. It’s about restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity to people often forgotten or left behind. We call on lawmakers to act with compassion and vision, recognizing that when people are given a true second chance, they don’t just change their own lives, they change the lives of those around them, building stronger, healthier communities for all.”
The initiative is estimated to generate over $4 billion in revenue and affect 2.2 million people around the state.