Chicago passes juvenile expungement legislation

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined state Senator Kwame Raoul, state Representative Arthur Turner and community leaders Monday to announce the passage of legislation that will allow some juvenile arrest records to be automatically expunged.

"Our young people should not be held back by a mistake in their past," said Mayor Emanuel.

The new legislation removes a hurdle that prevents many Chicago youth from qualifying for jobs and college scholarships.

Under the legislation, records will be cleared if they meet these and other requirements: the individual is 18, at least six months have passed since an arrest and the arrest to be expunged was not for a class two felony or higher, or a sex offense. A new process will also be established so that individuals may request to have multiple juvenile arrest records expunged on a single petition.

"This legislation is a great first step to helping young people and getting them on the right track for their future," said Representative Arthur Turner.