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Expungement is available if your case was nollied (not prosecuted), dismissed, or you were acquitted at trial. An expunged file is “impounded”, which means it is virtually destroyed and no longer exists. Police departments will destroy their record of your arrest. It may also be available for some cases with a successful supervision or first-time drug probation.

Sealing is available if your case led to a conviction, including a fine, probation, conditional discharge, or jail/prison sentence. A sealed file exists but is not available to the public, but law enforcement can still access it. Most employers will not find sealed records, as they are available only to certain employers that are allowed to require fingerprint background checks. Landlords never see sealed records.

Whether your driver’s license is suspended or revoked, you can get it back by following a number of required steps including paying fines and completing educational courses or treatment programs. Reinstating a revoked license is more complicated, requires a mandatory waiting period based on the offense, involves a hearing, and can take up to five years.

Whether you are a barber, cosmetologist, real estate agent or some other professional licensed by the state, there are a various steps to reinstating your license including completing forms, paying fees, and verifying continuing education or professional development.

A criminal record may disqualify you from working in some unlicensed health care roles such as a certified nurse assistant (CNA), care giver, or janitor in a health care setting. A healthcare waiver removes this barrier. The Illinois Department of Public Health approves waivers when they are satisfied an applicant is rehabilitated and past conduct will not impact public safety.

Your cannabis-related criminal records may be eligible for expungement and sealing, but the process is different depending on the exact offense. For example, an arrest for a minor cannabis offense may qualify for an automatic expungement while conviction of certain possession and dealing charges requires filing a motion.

A Governor’s Pardon is available for a conviction that is either ineligible for sealing or where the court denied a petition to seal. A pardon vacates the conviction and makes it eligible for expungement. Applications for a pardon are lengthy, and the applicant must appear before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, which will make a recommendation to the Governor.