Evanston aldermen Monday are scheduled to consider an ordinance that would provide for automatic expungement of the records of juveniles whose ordinance violation cases are heard under the city’s administrative adjudication process.
The proposed changes were developed at the recommendation the the Alternatives to Arrest Committee chaired by Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward.
A new state law which took effect at the start of this year creates an automatic expungement procedure for ordinance violations handled in district court.
The new city ordinance would apply similar standards to violations handled through administrative adjudication.
A companion ordinance also incorporates into the city code provisions of the state law regarding the handling of juvenile records maintained by the police department.
Automatic expungement of administrative adjudication juvenile records would occur whenever one year has elapsed from the time the case relating to the incident was closed or after five years had elapsed if the case was not closed.
In addition, for incidents that were not automatically expunged, the person involved could petition to have the record expunged at any time after one year.
The ordinance also requires that juveniles be advised orally and in writing during administrative hearings of the expungement process and their options under it.
Update 5/15/18: Aldermen voted to introduce and adopt both ordinances on an 8-0 vote Monday night.
Message to Drug runners–your juvenile crews with be back soon
A clear message–commit crimes, judges will slap you on the wrist, you will be back on the street soon and the city will quickly declare you “white as snow.”
Drug dealers and Gang leaders will once again have you free to do their work—and tell you the system will not really do anything to you.