A Bridge Forward works with individuals tired of being stigmatized and stymied by their criminal history. Sign up for a free consultation and learn how your background can be eliminated and your future preserved. Today, HR professionals responsible for employer recruitment face an increasingly complicated matrix of federal, state, and local laws. Ina tirelessly advocates for her clients, mining their personal stories to better understand why they came to be arrested or convicted.
She also takes great pains to ensure that clients understand what legal remedies are being employed and why. Ina is the first to admit that helping people overcome criminal record barriers sometimes means wearing multiple hats - all at the same time. Most of the time, Ina wears her attorney hat. At other times, Ina can be found wearing a career counselor, job finder, therapist, or friend hat.
Ina tells clients that her role as legal advocate does not include judging them for their past mistakes. I am exceedingly grateful to Ina for her sincere compassion and legal assistance during a challenging time in my life.
She also takes great pains to ensure that clients understand what legal remedies are being employed and why. Ina is the first to admit that helping people overcome criminal record barriers sometimes means wearing multiple hats - all at the same time. Most of the time, Ina wears her attorney hat. At other times, Ina can be found wearing a career counselor, job finder, therapist, or friend hat.
Ina tells clients that her role as legal advocate does not include judging them for their past mistakes. I am exceedingly grateful to Ina for her sincere compassion and legal assistance during a challenging time in my life.
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A Bridge Forward LLC works with individuals tired of being stigmatized and stymied by their criminal history.
Ina R. Silvergleid, a former employment law attorney, founded A Bridge Forward after volunteering several years at an expungement help desk in suburban Cook County.
During that time, which happened not long after the 2008 collapse of the U.S. economy, many people lost their jobs.
Suddenly, having a criminal background was a grave impediment to finding work.
Many of these individuals showed up at the help desk, entirely shocked by the scrutiny their old arrests and convictions were getting.
Ina R. Silvergleid, a former employment law attorney, founded A Bridge Forward after volunteering several years at an expungement help desk in suburban Cook County.
During that time, which happened not long after the 2008 collapse of the U.S. economy, many people lost their jobs.
Suddenly, having a criminal background was a grave impediment to finding work.
Many of these individuals showed up at the help desk, entirely shocked by the scrutiny their old arrests and convictions were getting.
Whenever someone is arrested, a record is created documenting that an arrest took place.
This occurs even where no formal criminal charges are filed against the arrestee in court.
An arrest record is as potentially damaging to someone's reputation as is a conviction record.
This sentiment applies to juvenile arrest records, even though they are technically not available to the public.
If you have been arrested in connection with a crime in Illinois you may be eligible to expunge your arrest record.
This occurs even where no formal criminal charges are filed against the arrestee in court.
An arrest record is as potentially damaging to someone's reputation as is a conviction record.
This sentiment applies to juvenile arrest records, even though they are technically not available to the public.
If you have been arrested in connection with a crime in Illinois you may be eligible to expunge your arrest record.
Whether someone must disclose their criminal background if sealed depends on the license.
If one is applying for a license with the Illinois Department of Financial or Professional Regulation, the answer generally is no.
If, however, one is applying for a teaching certificate or a law license, the answer is yes.
If you are uncertain about your chances of obtaining a license because of your criminal background, please schedule a free consultation for further guidance.
There is an exception with respect to health care licensing, which is discussed below.
If one is applying for a license with the Illinois Department of Financial or Professional Regulation, the answer generally is no.
If, however, one is applying for a teaching certificate or a law license, the answer is yes.
If you are uncertain about your chances of obtaining a license because of your criminal background, please schedule a free consultation for further guidance.
There is an exception with respect to health care licensing, which is discussed below.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the governor has the authority to pardon someone who has been convicted of a crime by granting clemency.
When petitioning for clemency, one can also request permission to have the criminal record expunged.
If expungement is then granted by a judge, however, the record of the conviction is not removed from the Illinois State Police database, but access to it is restricted.
In Illinois, if you want to obtain clemency from the governor you must first submit a petition for clemency with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB).
When petitioning for clemency, one can also request permission to have the criminal record expunged.
If expungement is then granted by a judge, however, the record of the conviction is not removed from the Illinois State Police database, but access to it is restricted.
In Illinois, if you want to obtain clemency from the governor you must first submit a petition for clemency with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB).
No one should experience the loss of a job offer because he/she couldn't pass a criminal background check.
Unfortunately, many job seekers face this predicament, partially because they believe after seven years their background can't legally be reported or no longer exists.
No one needs to play criminal background roulette.
All job applicants should know how criminal background checks are performed and what their rights are in the event a background report contains information that is inaccurate or belongs someone else.
Unfortunately, many job seekers face this predicament, partially because they believe after seven years their background can't legally be reported or no longer exists.
No one needs to play criminal background roulette.
All job applicants should know how criminal background checks are performed and what their rights are in the event a background report contains information that is inaccurate or belongs someone else.
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