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Crime & Traffic

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Criminal Records

A criminal record can affect your opportunities in work, housing, and other parts of life. These resources explain how criminal records are created, how they appear in background checks, who can access them, and what options you may have to reduce their impact, including clearing or sealing your record.

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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Can a sex offender be removed from the registry?
Explains sex offender registration requirements, the difference between an offender and a predator, and if a sex offender can appeal registration.
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Getting a job in health care after a conviction
Discusses health care waivers, which can remove barriers to employment for people with criminal convictions.
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5 types of background checks when applying for a job
Learn about the different types of background checks employers can use and what they do with the information.
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Cannabis expungement
A program to help you create forms to clear cannabis-related convictions from your criminal record.
Easy Form
Certificates of good conduct and relief from disabilities
Explains an option for helping people with criminal records who are not eligible for expungement or sealing.
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Starting a case to appeal a criminal conviction
Steps to appeal a criminal conviction from the necessary forms to writing a brief.
How-To
Asking the court to vacate a conviction after TASC probation
Learn who qualifies for TASC probation and how to vacate a conviction after successfully completing it.
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Should I clear my criminal record for immigration purposes?
This article explains how hiding or erasing your criminal or juvenile record might affect your immigration status.
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Do I have to tell employers about my criminal record?
Explains whether or not you have to tell an employer about your criminal record, and when an employer can use this information to make decisions.
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Removing a criminal record due to criminal identity theft
Explains how to correct or seal a criminal record that was created because someone used your name or ID during an arrest or conviction.
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What if I was denied or my record is not eligible for expungement or sealing?
Learn about your options if you don’t qualify for expungement or sealing, including certificates and waivers.
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Starting a request to expunge or seal a juvenile arrest record
Explains how to expunge a juvenile record in Illinois, including how to gather your records, which ones qualify, the forms you need, and where to file them.
How-To
Executive clemency
(5 resources)
Executive clemency basics
Learn how executive clemency works in Illinois, including commutations, pardons, expungement options, and how clemency requests are decided.
Guide
Applying for executive clemency
Steps to file a petition with the Prison Review Board from how to write the petition to how your hearing will work.
How-To
Writing an executive clemency petition
Learn about what you need to include in a clemency petition, how to organize it, and what documents can help when asking the governor for relief.
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Petition for executive clemency
Use the form to ask for executive clemency from the Illinois Governor.
Form link
Executive clemency
Answers to common questions about executive clemency, including who can apply, how the process works, and what the different types of clemency mean.
FAQ
Expunging or sealing an adult criminal record
(8 resources)
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
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
Your options for expunging or sealing a criminal record
Find answers to common questions about sealing or expunging a criminal record, like who qualifies, how long it takes, and what offenses can be cleared.
FAQ
Expunging or sealing a criminal record basics
Learn about sealing and expunging criminal records in Illinois, including eligibility, the process, and available resources for help.
Guide
Criminal records expungement and sealing worksheet
Use this form to gather all of the information about your criminal records and identify which items qualify for expungement and which qualify for sealing.
Form download
After your expungement or sealing case is decided
Get answers about what happens after the court decides your expungement or sealing request, including what to do next and who may still see your record.
FAQ
About the expungement and sealing court process
Get answers to common questions about the expungement and sealing court process, including where to file your forms, what to expect after you file, and how to prepare for a successful hearing.
FAQ
Expunging your records after drug court
Learn about drug court and how to expunge your record after completing the program.
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Understanding criminal records
(8 resources)
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
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.
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What do abbreviations on a RAP sheet mean?
Explains the common shortening of words on a RAP sheet so that you can understand your arrest record. Includes abbreviations of charges, sentences, dispositions, court terms, police terms, and convictions.
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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
Criminal records common questions
Find answers to common questions about criminal records in Illinois, including how they’re created, who can see them, how to fix mistakes, and ways to clear them.
FAQ
How to read a criminal record
Provides examples of court disposition records and sample police RAP sheet records and information so you can understand your criminal record.
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Completing an FBI background check
An FBI background check, known as an Identity History Summary, may be required if you’ve been arrested out of state.
How-To
Criminal records basics
Find out how criminal records are created in Illinois, what they include, how to request copies, and your options for clearing or sealing your record.
Guide