If you’re like many people in Chicago who have a criminal record, or if you know someone who does, you’re wondering, “Do felonies ever go away?”

The bad news is that they don’t go away on their own – but you may be able to work with a Chicago expungement lawyer to clear them.

How to Make a Felony Go Away

Before you get too excited, you need to know that most felonies won’t go away – at least, not completely. However, thanks to HB 2372, signed by Governor Bruce Rauner, many can be sealed. Criminal record sealing has almost the same effect as criminal record expungement. Expungement means that your records are destroyed or returned to you, while sealing means they’re not available to the public, landlords or most employers (but they are kept on file with the agencies that hold them).

You can’t apply for expungement for a sex offense, a violent crime, a gun crime or domestic violence.

Some felonies can be expunged, though. If you’re an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you could be eligible to expunge certain Class 3 or Class 4 felonies from your records.

Answer a few questions to determine whether you qualify for expungement now.)

Even if expungement isn’t an option, criminal record sealing can get you the fresh start you deserve. When your criminal records are sealed, it’s almost as if they don’t exist; only some employers, such as those in the healthcare field and the military, can see them. Law enforcement will still be able to see them, as well, but they aren’t going to pop up in a routine criminal background check. Nobody has to know that you have a criminal record from the past unless you tell them.

Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney About Making a Felony Disappear?

If you have a felony in your past, we may be able to help you.

Call us at 847-920-4540 right now for a free case review. We’ll ask about your situation and start putting together a strategy to clear your criminal record as quickly as possible.