This Saturday, nearly 300 Champaign County residents will gather at a church in Urbana to try to get their criminal records expunged or sealed.

The Champaign County Circuit Clerk's office is dropping collection and late fees on all criminal and traffic cases, this week only, during the office's third annual Amnesty Week. 

This week, the Champaign county circuit clerk’s office is hosting “Amnesty Week,” offering residents a chance to pay off any past-due fines without interest.

For anyone who’s ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, that criminal record can make it hard to find a job. Many people are eligible for criminal record relief that would either destroy or seal their record from public view. But the process of applying can be complicated and expensive.

For the first time, Champaign County is holding a public meeting to help some people with criminal records remove those records from public access to help them move on with their lives.

Circuit Clerk Katie Blakeman says those with old convictions, particularly juvenile records, have trouble getting a job, and have few financial resources.