Kane County Reporter

The Illinois House of Representatives has given unanimous approval to legislation filed by Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) that seeks to create a pathway to expunge criminal records for victims of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is a much more pervasive problem than many of us realize, and it can happen in any community regardless of size or location,” Keicher said. “Even though sex trafficking is most common, this form of modern-day slavery traps victims for many reasons, and they are often forced to engage in criminal behavior under threat to themselves, family or friends they may be trying to protect.”

“If the trauma of being trafficked wasn’t bad enough, victims often face legal penalties themselves for the actions they were forced into by their abusers," Keicher said. "House Bill 2418 helps us support victims through the recovery process by creating a pathway to expungement.”

House Bill 2418 aids trafficking victims by allowing them to petition for vacation, expungement, or immediate sealing of their sentence. It also allows the victim making the petition to attend hearings remotely to avoid undue hardship or create a risk of harm. In addition, the bill allows the petition to be filed under seal if a public filing may expose the victim to future harm.

Keicher credited reporting by WNIJ and the work of the Polaris Project, a nonprofit non-governmental organization that works to combat and prevent sex and labor trafficking in North America, for raising awareness about the difficulties survivors face once they escape their abuse. This led him to work with state and local resources to bring HB 2418 forward.

Madeleine Behr, policy director for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), which provides free legal services to trafficking survivors who need criminal records relief, said, “Our attorneys see the hardships survivors face as they rebuild their lives, including trying to clear criminal records they received while being trafficked. HB 2418 is a terrific step forward. It adds protections for confidentiality and privacy as survivors undergo this process. We urge the state Senate to support this critical legislation.”