SPRINGFIELD – To streamline expungement proceedings, State Senator Robert Peters advanced a measure out of the Senate on Tuesday making record expungement a smoother process for youth involved with the juvenile court systems.

“Young people may make mistakes due to immaturity or poor judgment,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Simplifying the process means more young people can wipe their slate clean and focus on making positive changes for their future.”

Peters’ measure supports the idea of making changes in how court systems handle young people involved with the law by helping them get back on track and be a part of the community again, emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration.

Often youth involved in the criminal justice system lack long-term legal representation, are unfamiliar with legal proceeding options and miss notifications of future expungement proceedings. His measure, Senate Bill 3463, requires juvenile court record expungements to be scheduled at the same time as initial court decisions to avoid multiple court appearances.

The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support and heads to the House for further consideration.