Springfield — In response to zero-tolerance legislation enacted in Illinois in recent years, Senate Majority Caucus Whip Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is fighting to give ex-offenders a fair shot at obtaining a professional license.
While ex-offenders who pose a threat to society should be denied a professional license, those who paid their dues and rehabilitated themselves deserve a second chance.
Under Martinez’s legislation, an ex-offender would be allowed to go through an appeal process to obtain a license for medical and therapy jobs. This plan is particularly important for young people who are banned from certain professions after making a mistake at an early age.
Senator Martinez was featured in an op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times regarding ex-offender hiring.
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