Illinois Needs a Clean Slate—Because We Can’t Define People by Their Worst Days

If clean slate laws had existed in the past, Susan B. Anthony, César Chávez, and Martin Luther King Jr. might have had their records sealed. Each of these iconic figures was arrested for actions we now celebrate as morally courageous.

Anthony was convicted in 1872 for the crime of voting while female, defying the law but advancing civil rights for generations. Chávez was jailed for organizing strikes and boycotts to demand fair wages and humane working conditions for agricultural workers, many of whom were invisible in the eyes of the law. King was arrested nearly 30 times during the Civil Rights Movement.  

History defines these leaders by their contributions rather than their charges. But redemption is harder to come by for millions of everyday Illinoisans with criminal records, many of them charged with low-level, nonviolent offenses. This week, automated criminal record sealing may become a reality for millions of Illinoisans who—like Anthony, Chávez, and King—want to be remembered and afforded opportunities in life based on the whole of their character.

More than 3 million people in Illinois have a criminal record, and the vast majority are not threats to public safety. Unfortunately, nearly 1,300 state laws prevent people with records from moving on even after serving their sentences. This web of restrictions underscores how even minor criminal records can trap people in cycles of economic exclusion, becoming lifelong barriers to success.

Illinois’ current petition-based record-sealing process is deeply flawed: It’s expensive, confusing, and requires legal expertise that most people don’t have. Research shows that less than one in 10 people who qualify for record sealing ever obtain it.

That’s where Illinois SB 1784 comes in. Filed by State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, a new amendment to this bill would automatically seal eligible records after one year for minor cases, two years for nonviolent misdemeanors, and three years for certain nonviolent felonies. It also covers dismissed charges and reversals, directing the Illinois State Police to identify and notify circuit clerks to seal records without requiring individuals to file petitions. Importantly, its exclusion of violent offenses and active cases ensures public safety remains paramount.

Clean slate will help Illinois’ economy, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States, by expanding the labor pool and reducing barriers to work for qualified individuals. It’s also a win for law enforcement officers, who often encounter the same individuals cycling through the system—not because they’re dangerous, but because old records keep them from stabilizing their lives. Clean slate laws reduce recidivism and let police focus on active threats rather than decades-old mistakes.

The historical figures we revere did not overcome their records because the law helped them—they did so in spite of the law. But one should not have to be a world-changing historical figure to earn the right to move on. Illinoisans with records are parents, workers, friends, and neighbors. They deserve to be seen not only for where they’ve been, but for where they’re going.

Clean slate is not about erasing the past, it’s about refusing to let outdated records destroy a future. Illinois has a chance to lead with both justice and pragmatism, embracing a policy that uplifts individuals, boosts the economy, and enhances public safety.

We honor Anthony, Chávez, and King not because they were perfect, but because they offered more to the world than just their criminal record. Let’s offer that same chance to every Illinoisan who has earned it—no fame required.