If you’re in Roseland – including Fernwood, Lilydale and Princeton Park – and you have a criminal record that’s preventing you from finding a place to live, getting a job or holding you back in other ways, we might be able to help you with criminal record expungement.
Related: Can a criminal history prevent you from getting a house in Chicago?
How to Get a Record Expunged in Roseland in Chicago
Expungement is the process of clearing your criminal record – what it does is wipe your slate clean so you get a fresh start. In an expungement, your criminal records are either destroyed or returned to you. The agencies that had them (the courts, the police departments and any other agencies) are required to get rid of them when a judge orders an expungement.
If your record is expunged, that means landlords, employers and other people will never see it. You don’t even have to tell anyone you have a criminal record (like when job applications ask if you’ve ever been arrested) – because if it’s expunged, you really don’t have a criminal record
Related: Expungement definition
Not everyone qualifies for expungement, though. That’s because you can only have certain types of crimes cleared from your record this way – and you have to meet other criteria, too, such as waiting a certain period of time since completing your sentence.
Related: Do I qualify for expungement in Illinois?
So what if you don’t qualify for expungement?
You might still qualify for criminal record sealing. Sealing is a lot like expungement – employers, landlords and others can’t see your record. The agencies that have your record still keep it (they don’t destroy it or return it to you), but it’s no longer available to the public for criminal background checks. Some employers, like those in hospitals, can still see it. So can law enforcement agencies, the courts and the military – but it’s not going to be public record, which means that most people aren’t going to be able to dive into your criminal history like they can when your record is unsealed.
Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Expungement in Roseland?
Whether you want your criminal record expunged or sealed, we may be able to help you. Not everyone qualifies, but if you do, we’ll start the process so you can get the fresh start you deserve.
Call us right now at 847-920-4540 for a free case review
