Crime & Traffic

Road, traffic light and handcuffs

Crime & Traffic

Cannabis
(8 resources)
How do you get medical cannabis?
Explains the medical cannabis program (MPC) in Illinois, including who qualifies, how to apply, and how to renew your registration.
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What do I need to work in a cannabis dispensary?
Explains the basic requirements of working in a cannabis dispensary including agent identification cards, applications, and training requirements.
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Cannabis expungement
This Easy Form helps you clear cannabis-related convictions from your criminal record.
Easy Form
Cannabis use and expungement common questions
Find answers to common questions about cannabis use and expungement in Illinois. Find out who can buy, use, and grow cannabis, where you can use it, and how to clear cannabis-related criminal records.
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Human Trafficking
(4 resources)
Human trafficking
Learn more about what human trafficking is, how to identify it, and how to help survivors.
FAQ
Introduction: Human Trafficking for Community Members
Learn about human trafficking in this video and how community members can identify signs of trafficking and how to help survivors.
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Introduction to Human Trafficking for Service Providers
In this video for service providers, learn more about the signs of human trafficking and how to help.
Video
Labor Trafficking: What is the Reality
Learn more about labor trafficking in this video, how to identify this at work and in the community, and how survivors can get help.
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Driver's licenses, state ID, or permits
(17 resources)
Documents needed to get a state ID or driver's license
Find out which documents you need to get an Illinois state ID or driver’s license.
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Getting a state ID or driver’s license
Learn about the steps you need to take to apply for an Illinois ID or driver’s license, including gathering documents and booking your appointment.
How-To
What Illinois laws take effect on January 1, 2026?
Learn more about new Illinois laws passed in 2025, including those going into effect on January 1, 2026.
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State ID or driver’s license common questions
Common questions about getting a state ID or driver’s license in Illinois, including eligibility, documents, costs, renewals, and REAL ID requirements.
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Car accidents
(1 resources)
What should I do when a car accident happens?
Explains the proper procedures to follow for drivers and passengers in vehicle accidents, including whether police must be called to the scene.
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Parking or traffic tickets
(7 resources)
Criminal Court fee waiver
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to waive or reduce criminal court assessments. It can also help you ask the court to waive or reduce traffic court assessments in Cook County, Illinois.
Easy Form
Paying my Chicago traffic fines common questions
Learn how to handle Chicago traffic tickets. Find answers about paying, contesting, setting up payment plans, deadlines, and what happens if you miss a payment.
FAQ
Costs for storage of impounded cars - Chicago
If your car is towed or impounded for outstanding parking ticket debt in Chicago you have several options. The cost of storage fees for impounded cars in Chicago is listed here together with links to the search tool offered by CPD called "Where's my car?"
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Traffic violations and your immigration status
​Discover how traffic violations can impact your immigration status. Understand how ICE handles different offenses and what may lead to detainment.
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Car ownership
(6 resources)
How do I sell my car?
Explains the taxes and paperwork involved in selling your car
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Do I pay Illinois taxes when buying a car in another state?
Understand when to pay Illinois car sales tax when you buy a car in another state.
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Transferring a car with a small estate affidavit
Learn the steps to use a Small Estate Affidavit (SEA) to transfer a person's car after the die.
How-To
Car loan basics
Understand car loans, including what to do before applying, interest rates and APR, and what you can negotiate.
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Other car, driving, or licenses issues
(5 resources)
Driver’s license for immigrants
Explains the Temporary Visitors Driver's License (TVDL) and who may qualify, including undocumented immigrants
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Do I pay Illinois taxes when buying a car in another state?
Understand when to pay Illinois car sales tax when you buy a car in another state.
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ID cards for people with disabilities
Outlines getting a state ID that proves your disability and the qualifications for getting one.
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Using cell phones while driving
Understand the laws on using cell phones while driving, including what is prohibited, fines for violations, and penalties if a crash causes injury or death.
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Criminal records
(32 resources)
How to access court records
Learn where to look up criminal and civil court records, what information is available online, and how to get official copies.
FAQ
Expunge or seal criminal records
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to expunge or seal arrests and convictions from your adult criminal record.
Easy Form
Starting a case to expunge or seal a criminal record
A step-by-step guide for filing a request to expunge or seal your criminal record in Illinois.
How-To
Getting copies of your criminal records
The first step in clearing your criminal record is finding out what is on it. Learn how to collect the documents you need to clear your record.
How-To
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A crime I saw or was hurt by
(13 resources)
Assault vs battery common questions
Information about the legal differences and punishments for assault and battery.
FAQ
Stalking No Contact Order
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to order someone making you fearful for your safety or causing you distress to stop stalking you.
Easy Form
What is the legal definition of self-defense?
Explains when you can fight back if you're attacked or if you feel like you're in danger.
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Reporting a crime in Illinois
Explains how to report a crime, including how to contact police, protections for immigrants, and available legal help, especially for victims seeking U or T Visas or VAWA support.
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Interacting with police
(7 resources)
Police stops and searches
Understand your rights when interacting with police during stops and searches.
FAQ
Your rights during a criminal investigation or arrest
Find answers to common questions about police investigations and arrests, including your rights and how to protect them.
FAQ
Pretrial release and detention
Illinois no longer uses cash bail. Instead, courts use a pretrial release system to decide whether someone stays in jail or is released before trial. Get answers to common questions about how pretrial release works.
FAQ
Filing a complaint against a police officer
Discover how to report police misconduct in Illinois, including which forms to file, where to submit them, and what to expect after your complaint.
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A criminal charge as an adult
(11 resources)
Criminal charges, pleas, and sentences basics
Learn the basics of criminal charges, pleas, and sentencing, including how the process works and what to expect.
Guide
Dealing with a criminal charge
Find out what to expect and what steps to take after being charged with a crime.
How-To
Public defenders basics
Learn about your right to a lawyer in a criminal case, what a public defender does, and when the court will appoint one.
Guide
Upcoming changes to Illinois’ public defender system
Learn about Illinois’ new public defender law, also known as the FAIR Act. Read about the changes to how public defenders are organized and supported statewide, and what it means for you.
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Asset seizure and forfeiture
(5 resources)
Getting back my forfeited property
The police sometimes take property from people they arrest. This explains how to get that property back.
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Get my impounded car back - Chicago
Steps to recover your impounded car in Chicago from finding the location it was towed to paying the fees.
How-To
Costs for storage of impounded cars - Chicago
If your car is towed or impounded for outstanding parking ticket debt in Chicago you have several options. The cost of storage fees for impounded cars in Chicago is listed here together with links to the search tool offered by CPD called "Where's my car?"
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Going to a hearing for an impounded car - Chicago
Explains that you can challenge the City of Chicago's decision to impound your car at an administrative hearing
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Juvenile justice system
(9 resources)
What Illinois laws take effect on January 1, 2026?
Learn more about new Illinois laws passed in 2025, including those going into effect on January 1, 2026.
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Juveniles in the criminal justice system
Learn what happens when a juvenile is arrested in Illinois, their rights during questioning, and when they can be tried as an adult.
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Finding my juvenile records
Find out how to get your juvenile arrest and court records in Illinois.
How-To
Juvenile record expungement basics
Learn your options for expunging a juvenile record, including how to find your records, which offenses qualify for automatic expungement, and how to petition the court.
Guide
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Prisoners' rights
(7 resources)
Re-entry resources for prisoners and former prisoners
Resources for recently released individuals returning from prison, including organizations that offer housing, education, employment, and other services for people with criminal records.
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Parole and other forms of release from prison
Learn about parole and other forms of release from prison. Includes the parole process, mandatory supervised release (MSR), and sentence credit.
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Executive clemency basics
Learn how executive clemency works in Illinois, including commutations, pardons, expungement options, and how clemency requests are decided.
Guide
Interacting with people in Illinois prisons
Explains what you need to do to talk to or visit with someone who is in an Illinois prison.
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Other crime and traffic issues
(17 resources)
Order of Protection
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to order someone to stop harming or threatening you, your children, or other household members.
Easy Form
Emergency Order of Protection - Cook County
This Easy Form helps you ask the court to order someone to stop harming or threatening you, your children, or other household members. Email your forms to the court. For use only in Cook County.
Easy Form
Gun license with a criminal record
Describes a person's eligibility for a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, gun ownership and use based upon prior criminal convictions.
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I received a subpoena and don't know what to do
Explains what you have to do if you receive a subpoena from the court. Do not ignore the subpoena. Failure to reply to a subpoena could result in charges of contempt of court, fines, and even jail time.
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