Asking to change a policy about arrest records or time in prison or jail

Are you applying to rent a place and....

• Have been arrested, formerly incarcerated, or spent time in jail?

• Have a disability, including a mental health issue or substance use disorder, that might have affected you during that time?

If you answered yes to both questions, you have the right to ask for a change to policies in the rental process related to any arrests or convictions.

How does a disability related to an arrest or time in jail or prison affect renting?

If you have a disability, you may be able to show that an arrest or time in jail or prison were impacted by a disability. Here are some examples: 

Additional rights if you live in Cook County

If you live in Cook County, Illinois, you may have additional rights. It does not matter if you have a disability. The Just Housing Amendment protects renters from discrimination based on history with the justice system. Housing providers must:

• Not consider arrests in housing applications

• Not let someone's record from 3 or more years ago (in most cases) impact their application

• Consider the full situation of someone who has a more recent interaction with the law and go through a process called an individualized assessment

Learn more about the Just Housing Amendment.

Asking for an accommodation about justice system related issues: sample letter 

Here is a sample letter about having a history of an arrest or time in jail or prison that explains some important things to include. The examples here might not all apply to your situation. You should include details that are true to you in your letter (or the person you are writing a letter for).