SPRINGFIELD, Ill. � A Chicago Democrat wants to  of charges against anyone found not guilty of an offense.
Under current state law, people could file for immediate sealing of their case after acquittal. In short, the process prohibits the courts from releasing case information to the public.
Rep. LaShawn Ford wants evidence of all court and police reports destroyed after someone is found not guilty. He says judges will have the authority to decide if those records should be expunged or not.
Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) told Ford she understood his idea. However, she strongly opposed the .
“At the very least, you need to have some type of provision where evidence of a crime can continue to be preserved,� Mazzochi said. “Otherwise, you are ensuring that guilty parties are going to go free. And there’s going to be no opportunity to recreate that evidence that has now been destroyed.�
“If you believe in a system of justice, you should believe that a person is innocent should walk away from that courtroom and be innocent and enjoy the liberties of their life,� Ford responded.
He also stressed no one should face constant scrutiny from the court system after acquittal. Language in an amendment to the bill specifically notes that judges may not expunge records of sexual assault, domestic battery, or a violation of an order of protection.
The House approved this proposal on a 62-44 vote. It now moves over to the Senate for consideration.
