Did you know that when you’re arrested and charged with a crime, this information will show up on your criminal record even if you are never convicted of the crime? Even long after the fact, having an arrest on your criminal record can impact future opportunities. In order to give you a clean slate, expungement may be your best option. Here’s what you should know about expungement in Illinois and how our expungement attorneys in Nokomis and Litchfield, Illinois can help.
Contact us today to request a consultation to discuss your case.
What Is Expungement?
As described by the State of Illinois, expungement is the process of erasing an arrest, conviction or court supervision from your record—so it’s as if the arrest and guilty plea or judgment never happened. When employers or others conduct a background check, they will not see anything related to the arrest, plea or judgment. You also are legally allowed to not report it when filling out an employment or housing application.
What Crimes Are Eligible for Expungement?
Expungement is used to erase arrests, pleas, judgments, court supervisions, probation outcomes, and some eligible convictions. Note, however, that many criminal convictions cannot be expunged from one’s record in Illinois.
- You cannot expunge minor traffic offenses from your record, eviction cases, or certain misdemeanor and felony offenses.
- You can expunge arrests for felonies and misdemeanors that did not result in a conviction, convictions for felonies and misdemeanors that were reversed or pardoned, sentences for supervision or of qualified probation, and a number of other offenses, including reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, domestic battery, violation of a protection order, and more.
The Expungement Process in Illinois
If you’re pursuing an expungement of your record in Illinois, there are certain steps you’ll need to take:
- First, you’ll need copies of your criminal record. You can obtain these directly from the Illinois State Police or another law enforcement agency.
- Next, review your records—preferably with the help of an attorney—to determine whether or not you are eligible for expungement. If the offenses on your record are eligible for expungement, the next step is to gather and fill out the expungement form.
- Finally, you will file the expungement form with the Circuit Clerk in the county in which you were arrested or charged to begin the process. This process can take quite a while, so it is best to get started today.
Get Legal Help Today
At the Law Offices of Glenn & West, LLC, our experienced Illinois expungement attorneys are here to help. We realize how significantly an arrest, charge, plea, or judgment of conviction on your criminal record may impact you and affect your opportunities in the future. We also know that the expungement process can be confusing, and that knowing what offenses are eligible for expungement and how to ensure that an expungement case moves forward may not be clear.
When you call us, we will guide you through the expungement process and offer the support and advocacy you need. We are passionate about providing our clients with high-quality, reliable attention and service. For help with your expungement case, contact us to request a consultation today.
