For many Illinois residents, expungement is not just a legal process—it is an emotional turning point. A criminal record can weigh heavily on every aspect of life, from job applications and housing searches to personal relationships. Even if the case never resulted in a conviction, the stigma of an arrest can linger. When the court [...]

For many people in Illinois, expungement is about more than jobs or housing—it’s about reclaiming opportunities once thought impossible. One of the most life-changing of those opportunities is military service. The U.S. Armed Forces have strict enlistment standards, and criminal history often plays a role in determining whether an applicant is eligible. That leads to [...]

Expungement has always been about second chances. In Illinois, if a case is dismissed, if you are acquitted, or if you meet certain eligibility rules, the law allows you to erase the record from official databases. Once granted, law enforcement and courts treat the record as though it never existed. The goal is clear: to [...]

For decades, people seeking expungement in Illinois focused mainly on court files, police reports, and background checks. If the law erased your record, it was gone—at least in official channels. But today, artificial intelligence (AI) raises a new question: Even after expungement, can AI still find old records? From predictive hiring platforms to advanced background-screening [...]

Filing an expungement petition in Illinois is the first step toward clearing your record and getting a fresh start. But the process doesn’t end with paperwork. Once you file, copies of your petition are sent to the Illinois State Police, the local police department involved in your case, and the state’s attorney’s office. These agencies [...]

In Illinois, people seeking to clear their criminal history often hear two terms: expungement and sealing. While both provide relief, they work in very different ways. Unfortunately, confusion between them is common. Some assume sealing is the same as expungement, while others believe that once a case is sealed, it disappears completely. These misunderstandings can [...]