The Illinois Legislature has advanced a plan that would force the Illinois State Police to erase some arrest records for children who weren’t charged or convicted of the alleged crime.
The measure would exclude sex-related offenses, higher-level felony arrests and those occurring within the previous six months. It now goes to Governor Pat Quinn for his approval.
Supporters say the plan would give kids a better chance to get jobs, enter college and avoid gang violence. But some lawmakers say they’re concerned because the measure doesn’t guarantee that some lower-level arrest records wouldn’t be made public.