SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters released the following statement in response to passage of his Senate Bill 3463 in the House, which will make record expungement a smoother process for youth involved with the juvenile court systems:

“We are changing how court systems see young people, helping them get back on track and be a part of the community again.

“Youth involved in the criminal justice system lack consistent legal representation, struggle to navigate legal procedures, and often miss notifications regarding potential expungement opportunities. This initiative prioritizes their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.

“Streamlining the expungement process by coordinating it with initial court decisions eliminates unnecessary appearances, enabling more young people to erase their past mistakes and concentrate on building a brighter future.

"I am immensely proud to witness both chambers advance this legislation with bipartisan support, and I look forward to the governor's support by signing Senate Bill 3463 into law.”