Expungement FAQs

FAQs for Expungement Services

Expungement involves the destruction or removal of criminal records, so they are treated as if they never existed.

Sealing involves records being hidden from public view, but they can still be accessed by certain government or law enforcement agencies.

Why should you care about Expungement/Sealing

3 million Illinois residents have a criminal record
1.5 million residents have a conviction
921,000 people are eligible for sealing conviction record
In Illinois, only 10% of people eligible for sealing obtained it
Roughly 9 in 10 eligible individuals remain in what the study calls the “Second Chance Gap” — having not yet filed for or obtained sealing/expungement

What can be Expunged/Sealed

Arrests, charges, or cases with no conviction
- Charges dismissed, acquitted, or released without charge may be eligible for expungement.
Convictions for some misdemeanors or certain “qualified probation” cases (if eligible and after waiting periods) may be sealed.
Cases where the conviction was vacated or reversed
Completed supervisions and qualified probations may be eligible after a waiting period.
Federal or out-of-state convictions cannot be expunged under Illinois law.

What cannot be Expunged/Sealed

Federal or out-of-state convictions cannot be expunged under Illinois law.
DUI / Driving Under the Influence
Domestic Battery
Sexual offenses / sex crimes
Animal care crimes
Offenses requiring registration (e.g. sex offender registry)
Subsequent felony convictions after sealing

What does the filing process involve?

Note: All cases must be closed before filing

Obtain criminal record (Illinois State Police or local agency).
Complete standardized forms:
Petition to Expunge/Seal, Notice of Filing, and Order.
File in the Circuit Court of the county where the arrest occurred.
Pay fees or request fee waiver.
Clerk notifies law enforcement and prosecutors.
Wait 60 days for objections.
Court may grant expungement/sealing.

What happens after filing?

Illinois State Police and agencies must comply with the order within 60 days
You’ll receive confirmation once your records are removed or sealed
Expunged records will not appear on background checks.
You keep a certified copy of your expungement order for your records

What does filing look like in my county?

Cook

Daley Center
Filing Fee: $120
Resources: Free help at Legal Aid/CGLA

Will

Joliet Courthouse
Typical processing takes 3-6 months

Kankakee

450 E. Court St.
Typical processing takes 2-3 months

DuPage

Wheaton Judicial Center
Filing Fee: $160
Resources: Self-help center available

Where can I obtain my Rap Sheet (Criminal History) in my county?

Cook

Chicago Police Department –
Chicago Police Headquarters, Public Access, Window #1,
3510 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago. Chicago Police Department
You must bring a valid state ID, be fingerprinted, and pay $16.

Illinois State Police — Bureau of Identification
260 North Chicago Street
Joliet, Illinois 60432-4075
Phone: 815-740-5160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (excluding state holidays)

Will

Will County Courthouse
100 W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: 815-727-8592
Hours: Monday—Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Fee Schedule

Copy of Document 1st Page $2.00
Next 19 pages $0.50/page
All remaining pages $0.25/page

Illinois State Police — Bureau of Identification
260 North Chicago Street
Joliet, Illinois 60432-4075
Phone: 815-740-5160
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (excluding state holidays)

Kankakee

Kankakee County Sheriff / Police Departments
Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office
470 E Merchant St, Kankakee, IL
or
Kankakee Police Department
209 N. Indiana Ave, Kankakee, IL

DuPage

Page County Sheriff’s Office
501 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, Illinois, 60187
Phone: 630.407.2000

What are effects of Expungement/Sealing

You can legally answer “No” to questions about arrests on most applications
Employers and landlords cannot access expunged/sealed records
Law enforcement retains limited access
Expungement does not affect federal or out-of-state records

What other resources can I review?

Illinois Legal Aid Online – illinoislegalaid.org
Office of the State Appellate Defender – osad.illinois.gov
Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court – cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
Illinois Supreme Court Approved Forms – illinoiscourts.gov
Cabrini Green Legal Aid – cgla.net