Crime & Traffic resources

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

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.

Video

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.

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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

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

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

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

Can the police search my car?

A blog on the possibility of a police officer searching your car and your corresponding rights

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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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Car ownership

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

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

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

Criminal record expungement or sealing request

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

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

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.

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

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

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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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My rights when I'm under arrest or in custody

Describes what rights people who get arrested have while in custody. Explains what you're allowed to do when interacting with law enforcement and what they are allowed to do to you.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Understanding criminal charges, pleas, and sentences

Answers to common questions about criminal charges, plea bargains, sentencing, and what happens after you are charged with a crime.

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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.

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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

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.

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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.

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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

My rights when I'm under arrest or in custody

Describes what rights people who get arrested have while in custody. Explains what you're allowed to do when interacting with law enforcement and what they are allowed to do to you.

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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

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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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.

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Crime & Traffic

Crime & Traffic