HB 5516 and SB 2528: Certificates Legislation

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Individuals with criminal records need a job to rebuild their life and contribute to society, yet many obstacles make obtaining employment difficult. The Civic Action Network has teamed with a diverse coalition to strengthen and build on efforts that provide the certification and credentials to help formerly incarcerated individuals find and maintain work.
Some more facts about HB 5516/SB 2528

• In 2003, the Illinois legislature passed HB0569, which gave a very select group of ex-offenders the opportunity to apply for a stringent review of their criminal record and rehabilitative history three years after release. But the impact of the legislation has been narrow.
• The review determines whether the State of Illinois will grant a certificate that indicates the ex-offender has been rehabilitated, lifting some of the lifelong penalties that accompany a criminal record.
• We continue working to fix the previous legislation by expanding the opportunity to apply for the Illinois Parole Board review to all people with records who have not had an additional offense within three years. HB 5516/SB 2528 expands certificates eligibility and brings the lifelong punishment of a prison sentence to an end for those who have been rehabilitated.
• Certificates help employers overcome barriers to employing ex-offenders. Ex-offenders who attain 30 days of employment achieve a 67% reduction in recidivism (Loyola University Study on Safer Foundation, 2005).

Read the text of the Certificates Legislation and track its progress here
Find your legislators and tell them to reduce barriers to employment by supporting HB 5516/SB 2528! http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx

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