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Understanding Expungement in Illinois

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Illinois offers both expungement and sealing of criminal records, giving people a second chance after involvement with the criminal justice system.

Expungement physically destroys records of arrests that did not lead to conviction. You may be eligible if charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were found not guilty.

Sealing hides records from public view but keeps them accessible to law enforcement. Many misdemeanor and some felony convictions can be sealed after a waiting period.

Under the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630), eligible offenses can be petitioned for sealing 3 years after completing your sentence. Certain violent offenses, sex crimes, and DUIs cannot be sealed or expunged.

Filing fees are approximately $120, though fee waivers are available for those who qualify. The process typically takes 4-6 months from filing to completion.