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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois citizens who have been convicted of Class
3X felonies and other felony offenses are unfairly denied
4opportunities to obtain jobs even after complying with all
5sentencing and post-sentencing requirements; and
 
6    WHEREAS, African-American men are disproportionately
7affected by policies because too many of them are disqualified
8from job opportunities and other opportunities; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Under the current system, being a formerly
10incarcerated person essentially amounts to a life sentence of
11being a second class citizen; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Formerly incarcerated citizens depend on the
13benevolence of school administrators, employers, landlords,
14and more individuals in order to properly participate in
15society; and
 
16    WHEREAS, There is no current means to rid oneself of the
17stigma associated with being an ex-felon; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Formerly incarcerated citizens should be
19empowered to determine their own destinies; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Formerly incarcerated citizens should be given
2the same opportunities as other Illinois Citizens to choose
3where they live, work, and attend school; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Formerly incarcerated citizens should be provided
5with the incentive to conform their behavior to society's
6standard, which will increase public safety; and
 
7    WHEREAS, A person should not have to continue to pay for
8something he or she may have done years ago after complying
9with all sentencing requirements; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Having job opportunities and having one's record
11sealed will reduce recidivism; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Innocent individuals are also hurt by current
13policies because sometimes the innocent get convicted or plead
14guilty to felonies; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Discriminatory policies created by
16administrators, employers, and legislators amount to
17post-incarceration sentencing equating to double jeopardy; and
 
18    WHEREAS, If a person is no longer incarcerated, he or she
19is not serving a de jure life sentence, so it is immoral to be
20serving a de facto life sentence (void of sufficient job

 

 

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1opportunities); and
 
2    WHEREAS, The lack of sufficient criminal sealing
3protections entails the creation of a permanently dependent
4class of individuals; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Many of those individuals cannot earn a living and
6are forced to prey upon those who do or to earn a living by
7obtaining entitlements or sponging off law-abiding citizens;
8therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11urge the Governor's Commission on Criminal Justice and
12Sentencing Reform (Executive Order 15-14) to study issues and
13permit, to the extent that such a determination is appropriate,
14the mentioned members of the vulnerable population to have a
15chance to relieve themselves of the stigma of being convicted
16felons and to have a chance to obtain jobs by having their
17records sealed (and through any other means) so long as they
18comply with the following steps:
 
19    1) Complete parole/probation;
 
20    2) Complete any required drug treatment program, anger
21    management program, psychological testing, and anything

 

 

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1    else required;
 
2    3) Obtain a G.E.D., high school diploma, or something
3    equivalent to the mentioned;
 
4    4) Employed, actively seeking employment, enrolled in
5    vocational training, or enrolled in a college program;
 
6    5) Does not have any felony conviction for a period of time
7    commensurate with the severity of their convictions (e.g.,
8    for 1, 3, 5, or 7 years, etc.)
 
9    6) So long as a formerly incarcerated Illinois citizen
10    successfully complies with the above steps, unless he or
11    she is a registered sex offender, then his or her record
12    must forever be sealed unless he or she commits another
13    felony; and
 
14    7) A person who is a registered sex offender must have his
15    or her situation reviewed by a review board to determine
16    whether the person may have his or her record sealed; and
17    be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the Governor's Commission on Criminal Justice and
20Sentencing Reform.