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Measure Allows Felons To Clean Slate

ilga.gov
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The Illinois House voted to give certain felons the opportunity to erase their criminal records if they join the military.  Sex offenders or anyone convicted of a violent crime wouldn't be eligible.

Representative Mike Bost proposes allowing other felons the chance for a clean slate.

If the military accepts them, and they're discharged honorably, they'd be eligible to get their record expunged.

"I'm from the military. I know what's involved with being trained in the military. I know what you've got to do ." -Rep. Mike Bost

The Illinois legislature debates a lot of measures intended to give criminals a second chance - but they're usually introduced by Democrats from Chicago. Bost is a Republican from Murphysboro, in Southern Illinois.

That wasn't lost on one of those Chicago Democrats - Representative Will Davis - as heard in this exchange:

DAVIS: "So when there have been expungement bills that have come through here before - do you remember how you might have voted on some of those?"

BOST: "Yeah, I didn't vote for them."

DAVIS: So what do you think was wrong with those bills that all of a sudden, we should support this one?"

BOST: "I didn't necessarily agree with the litmus test."

This measure got a mix of Republican and Democratic support and won approval on a 67 to 41 vote.

Illinois Public Radio's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.