Changes to the Illinois Criminal Identification Act Could Give YOU a Fresh Start


The Illinois Criminal Identification Act is changing—and it could affect your eligibility for a criminal record expungement

Changes to the Illinois Criminal Identification Act

Major changes to the Illinois Criminal Identification Act could make it easier to get your criminal record expunged in Chicago, Rolling Meadows, and Skokie, as well as elsewhere in Illinois.

The changes don’t take effect until January 1, 2017, though, so you’ll have to wait until then to petition the courts for criminal record clearing if you want to take advantage of the law’s new allowances.

So what’s the big deal?

If you have a conviction on your record, you’re not automatically disqualified from criminal record expungement. Before the new law passed (and until January 1, 2017), you couldn’t get your record expunged if you had a conviction history. In most cases, you could only apply for criminal record sealing—not expungement, which essentially erases your criminal record.

After the first of the year, you can begin to petition for expungement if you’ve been previously convicted of a crime.

This is huge news for people who have prior convictions.

Changes Affecting Criminal Record Sealing

Until January 1, most people have to wait three years before they can apply for criminal record sealing. However, the latest modifications to the Illinois Criminal Identification Act change that period to two years. If you think these changes may have affected you, it’s a good idea to get in touch with a Chicago criminal record sealing lawyer who can give you case-specific advice.

Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About the Changes to the Criminal Identification Act?

If you’d like to find out whether you’re now eligible for criminal record expungement, call us immediately at 847-920-4540 for a FREE expungement case evaluation. We’ll tell you how the changes to the current law are going to help you get a fresh start and begin the process as soon as you give us the green light.