Blocks Together

In Spring 2021, Blocks Together community members seeking criminal expungements and record sealing discovered that they were ineligible for this relief. The only option to clear their records was executive clemency, the process through which the Governor may grant discretionary pardons and commutations. 

In the months that followed, Blocks Together executive clemency waitlist grew and the need for legal support and educational resources on the issue became evident.  Blocks Together discovered that, outside of exoneration projects and costly private attorneys, no Chicago-based organizations provided free executive clemency legal services, or even extended assistance to support community members advocating for their own clemency.