>> COOK >> COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE OPENING WHAT THEY'RE CALLING AN OPEN STOP SHOP FOR RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START.

AND BY THAT, THEY MEAN EXPUNGING CRIMINAL STARTING CRIMINAL RECORDS.

HERE'S COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK IRIS MET THE NURSE FROM EARLIER TODAY AT THE RIBBON CUTTING OF OFFICE'S NEW EXPUNGEMENT DEPARTMENT.

>> CREATION OF DEPARTMENT IS NOT MERELY IN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE.

IT IS A STRIKE TOWARDS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS ACCESS TO JUSTICE.

>> WDW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOIN US NOW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE NOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TELL WHAT WILL THE NEW DEPARTMENT OFFER?

SO THIS IS A NEW SPACE INSIDE THE COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS BUILDING AT 26 IN CALIFORNIA.

>> AND IT'S IT'S A ONE SPOT AREA.

WE'RE REQUESTING FILINGS FOR EXPUNGEMENTS TO GET THESE RECORDS.

CRIMINAL RECORDS WIPED OFF THE BOOKS.

IT CAN ALL TAKE MARTINEZ'S OFFICE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER ASSISTANCE.

THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN FILING THESE EXPUNGE MONTHS.

THEY OFFER CLASSES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS A QUICK WAY.

CONSULTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE CRIMINAL RECORDS OFF THE BOOKS AND GET A FRESH START WITH THEIR LIVES.

AND CAN ANYONE WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND MAKE USE OF IT?

SO IT'S NOT QUITE ANYONE.

THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN RECORDS THAT CAN BE EXPUNGED.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED IS GOING TO BE PUBLIC RECORDS ABOUT THAT, EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED.

BUT YOU CAN TRY TO GET THOSE OFF THE BOOKS.

AND SOMETIMES THEY RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH HOUSING OR A JOB OR EDUCATION.

IF YOU HAVE THESE RECORDS OUT THERE.

SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF THESE CRIMES BUT HAVE ARREST ARE CHARGING RECORDS OUT THERE.

THEY CAN FILE THESE EXPANSION REQUESTS AND GET THEM OFF THE BOOKS.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME CONVICTIONS THAT CAN ALSO BE EXPUNGED, FOR INSTANCE, COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX, HER OFFICE FOR YEARS HAS BEEN TRYING TO EXPUNGE LOTS OF LOW LEVEL.

CANNABIS RELATED CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN ON THE RECORDS FOR SOMETIMES DECADES.

BUT THOSE HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPUNGED AS WELL.

RECENT YEARS.

>> AND THEN HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS NEW DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD EXPUNGEMENT SYSTEM?

SO PREVIOUSLY, IF YOU ARE 5, IF YOU HAD A CHARGE FILED IN A CERTAIN BRANCHES IN COOK COUNTY AND THERE ARE SEVERAL YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE COURTROOM FOR THAT SPECIFIC BRANCH AND FILED THIS EXPANSION REQUEST.

NOW WITH THIS NEW DEPARTMENT AT 26 IN CALIFORNIA.

YOU CAN DO IT THERE.

IF YOU HAD MULTIPLE CHARGES MULTIPLE BRANCHES, YOU HAVE TO GO TO EACH ONE OF THOSE FILE AND PAY A FILING CHARGE FOR EACH ONE OF THESE.

NOW THERE'S ONE CHARGE.

THERE'S LESS TRAVEL.

YOU CAN GET IT ALL DONE IN ONE PLACE.

SO OFFICIALS SAID THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH THE OLD PROCESS, THIS NEW STREAMLINED PROCESS WITH THE ONE LOCATION IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THINGS A LOT EASIER AND HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL.

SEEMS THAT A GAME CHANGER WITH THINKING THAT FOR THE VIEW FOR