Cook County workshop aims to help young adults through expungement process
CHICAGO — A training workshop happening next week aims to make it easier for young people in Cook County to get their records expunged.
"Expungements are important for individuals who have done their time, or have never been convicted, to start fresh without any of that in their background," said Carmen Navarro Gercone, Executive Clerk of Court Operations and Administration for Cook County.
Navarro-Gercone joined the WGN Weekend Morning News to share a story about how an 80-year-old woman who needed expungement help after something on her record from 60 years ago was holding up her application for senior housing.
"She was applying for senior housing and found something in her twenties so, this affects everyone," Navarro-Gercone said.
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On Wednesday at Malcolm X College, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is hosting its third train the trainer workshop and resource fair, with this one tailored specifically for juvenile expungements.
Former clerk Iris Martinez lost her re-election bid in the March primary after her office came under fire for data errors, including giving felony records to people who shouldn't have them. Earlier this year, Martinez launched an expungement department.
And now, Navarro-Gercone said the office has worked to streamline its approach, training community leaders to be the first line of assistance, so they can answer questions on whether people qualify for expungement.
"Individuals who are nervous don't have to go to courthouse," Navarro-Gercone said. "They can go into community, because community has the information the court has."
Time: July 10 (Wednesday), 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Place: Malcolm X College
For those interested in more information, visit CookCountyClerkOfCourt.org , or find the Cook County Clerk on social media at the following handles.
FB: Cook County Clerk of Court
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