Crime & Traffic resources

Explains the medical cannabis program (MPC) in Illinois, including who qualifies, how to apply, and how to renew your registration.

Text article

Cannabis expungement

A program to help you create forms to clear cannabis-related convictions from your criminal record.

Easy Form

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.

Text article

Cannabis legalization and expungement basics

Learn how the legalization of cannabis in Illinois may impact your life and what can happen now if you had a criminal record due to cannabis use.

Guide

View all

Human Trafficking

The Illinois Trafficking Victims Protection Act

A blog about the Illinois Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Text article

Introduction to human trafficking

The basics of human trafficking, how to identify it, and what to do if you or someone you know is a victim.

Video

Department of Justice: human trafficking prosecution

A webpage from the US Department of Justice about human trafficking prosecutions, relevant case law, and resources.

Link

Introduction to Human Trafficking for Service Providers

The basics of human trafficking, how to identify it, and how to work with survivors and those at risk.

Video

View all

Driver's licenses, state ID, or permits

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.

Text article

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

Driver’s license for immigrants

Explains the Temporary Visitors Driver's License (TVDL) and who may qualify, including undocumented immigrants

Text article

Vehicle emissions testing

Learn who needs an emissions test, where to go, available exemptions, and what happens if you don’t test your car.

Text article

View all

Car accidents

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.

Text article

What to expect after a car accident

This article explains what to do after a car accident, including how to gather important information, understand court rules, calculate damages, and deal with auto insurance.

Text article

Which car seats are required?

Learn about Illinois rules for car seats, seat belts, and child safety, including what drivers need to know when transporting kids.

Text article

View all

Parking or traffic tickets

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

Is it legal to tow someone without giving notice?

Explains that in order for your car to be towed there must be signs saying so, if not then they owe you your money back.

Text article

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.

Text article

Getting your license back if it was suspended for unpaid tickets or tolls

Learn how to get your driver’s license reinstated after a suspension for unpaid traffic tickets, parking fines, or tolls with these steps.

How-To

View all

Car ownership

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.

Text article

How do I sell my car?

Explains the taxes and paperwork involved in selling your car

Text article

Transferring a car with a Small Estate Affidavit

You can use a Small Estate Affidavit (SEA) to transfer a car, but you must go through the Secretary of State.

Text article

Buying and keeping a used car

Describes buying and keeping a used car as well as where to get help if your car is repossessed.

Text article

View all

Other car, driving, or licenses issues

Driver’s license for immigrants

Explains the Temporary Visitors Driver's License (TVDL) and who may qualify, including undocumented immigrants

Text article

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.

Text article

ID cards for people with disabilities

Outlines getting a state ID that proves your disability and the qualifications for getting one.

Text article

DUI basics in Illinois

Driving under the influence does not only mean driving under the influence of alcohol. You can be arrested for DUI if you are under the influence of any drug. If so, your ability to drive will be impacted.

Text article

View all

Criminal Records

Criminal record expungement or sealing request

A program to help you complete the forms to ask a court to expunge or seal your adult criminal record. Depending on your answers, the program gives you the forms you need to file.

Easy Form

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

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

How do I get records for Cook County Circuit Court?

Describes the process of getting access to criminal records. If your case was filed in Cook County, you cannot find these records online.

Text article

View all

A crime I saw or was hurt by

Assault vs battery, what's the difference?

Information about how the legal differences and punishments for assault and battery.

Text article

Stalking No Contact Order

A program to help you ask the court to order a person who is stalking you to stay away and stop contacting 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.

Text article

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.

Text article

View all

Interacting with police

Cash bail changes - 2023 SAFE-T Act

As of September 18, 2023, Illinois courts no longer use a cash bail system. Instead, they use a “pretrial release” system as allowed by the SAFE-T Act. Learn more about this new system and what it means.

Text article

If I carry an ID, do I have to identify myself?

Explains the rules that people must follow for self-identification with the police.

Text article

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 you complain.

Text article

Can I use my phone to record the police in public?

A blog about recording public police conduct.

Text article

View all

A criminal charge as an adult

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.

Text article

Bonds and the end of cash bail in Illinois

This article explains what a bond is, the elimination of bonds in Illinois, and how judges now decide whether to release someone before their trial.

Text article

Filing a post-conviction petition

Steps to file a petition after appealing your case from where to file the petition for your evidentiary hearing. If the issue could have been raised in the appellate court and was not, you typically cannot raise the issue in a post-conviction petition. Details about time limitations covered.

How-To

Filing a writ of habeas corpus

Steps to file a writ of habeas corpus to challenge why you are in prison.

How-To

View all

Asset seizure and forfeiture

Getting back my forfeited property

The police sometimes take property from people they arrest. This explains how to get that property back.

Text article

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?"

Text article

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

Text article

View all

Juvenile justice system

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.

Text article

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.

Text article

Juvenile expungement basics

Find out how to expunge your juvenile record in Illinois, including which charges qualify for automatic expungement and your options if they don’t.

Guide

Finding my juvenile arrest records - Cook County

Find out how to request juvenile arrest records in Cook County. Learn where to go, what to bring, and how long it takes to get your records.

How-To

View all

Prisoners' rights

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.

Text article

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.

Text article

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.

Text article

Filing a post-conviction petition

Steps to file a petition after appealing your case from where to file the petition for your evidentiary hearing. If the issue could have been raised in the appellate court and was not, you typically cannot raise the issue in a post-conviction petition. Details about time limitations covered.

How-To

View all

Other crime and traffic issues

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

Assault vs battery, what's the difference?

Information about how the legal differences and punishments for assault and battery.

Text article

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

Cash bail changes - 2023 SAFE-T Act

As of September 18, 2023, Illinois courts no longer use a cash bail system. Instead, they use a “pretrial release” system as allowed by the SAFE-T Act. Learn more about this new system and what it means.

Text article

View all

Google custom search block

User account menu

Language switcher

AddToAny buttons

Crime & Traffic

Crime & Traffic