Alright, Jennifer Pahlka is not only a smart lady, but she also appears to be pretty cool. Hats off to you, Jennifer! Automating expungement processes for Cook County. Thank goodness we have people out there leveraging technology to better society. Let’s think smarter, not harder!
-Dabbin’ Dad
Tens of thousands of cannabis convictions will be automatically expunged under a partnership between a tech nonprofit and Cook County prosecutors, part of an effort State’s Attorney Kim Foxx characterized as “righting the wrongs of the past.” Foxx said the collaboration with Code for America would help atone for prosecutors’ role in an overzealous “war on drugs.”
Convictions from 2013 onward will be expunged by 2021, as long as at least a year has passed since the offense took place, according to Foxx’s office.
Marijuana cases that were charged along with other offenses will not be eligible for the automated program. Anyone hoping to expunge those convictions would have to go through the normal process.
Code for America founder and Executive Director Jennifer Pahlka, left, speaks at a news conference in Chicago on Aug. 27 as Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx listens. Pahlka and Foxx announced a historic partnership about Clear My Record technology that will be used to clear tens of thousands […]