If you live in Riverdale or another Chicago neighborhood, you may be eligible for criminal record expungement through the Cook County court system.

What is Expungement?

Expungement is the process of clearing your criminal record so that you can get a fresh start. It “erases” your criminal record so that you never have to tell anyone you had one in the first place.

If a judge orders your records to be expunged, the agencies that have them – courts, police departments or other agencies – have to destroy them or return them to you. They’re no longer in the system, so if someone runs a criminal background check on you, nothing will come up.

Does Everyone Qualify for Criminal Record Expungement?

Not everyone qualifies for expungement, but people who don’t might qualify for criminal record sealing.  

Criminal record sealing doesn’t erase your record, but it does make it more private so that members of the general public can’t access it.

Related: Find out if you qualify for expungement

Why Don’t Some People Qualify for Expungement?

Some crimes are never eligible for expungement or sealing. Whether or not you’re eligible for criminal record clearing depends on other things on your record, too. Your best bet is to talk to a Chicago expungement lawyer to find out if your record qualifies for criminal record clearing.

What if You Were Never Convicted?

Sometimes, arrests that didn’t result in criminal convictions can be expunged from your record. (A lot of people don’t realize that if they’ve ever been arrested, they have a criminal record.)

What to Do if You’re Interested in Expungement in Riverdale

The first step to clearing your criminal record is figuring out if you’re eligible. You’ll need to get a complete copy of your criminal history. If you can’t, that’s okay – your lawyer might be able to perform a background check for you to get the information he needs.

You can call us for free expungement advice at 847-920-4540 or get a free consultation by filling out the form here