If you have a criminal record, you’re probably tired of it hanging over your head. For many people, a criminal record can mean all kinds of problems – including difficulty finding a place to live, getting a job, or even getting credit to buy something.
But there’s good news: There’s a list of crimes you can seal in Illinois.
Not all crimes qualify for criminal record sealing, though. Here’s what you need to know.
List of Crimes You Can Seal in Illinois
You can seal many types of crimes in Illinois, including:
- Arrests and charges for felonies or misdemeanors that did not lead to a conviction (such as charges that were dropped or cases that were dismissed)
- Minor traffic offenses, as long as you were released without being charged with a crime
- Felony traffic offenses that were reduced to an eligible misdemeanor
- Convictions for most (but not all) nonviolent misdemeanors and felonies
- Misdemeanor public indecency
The crimes you cannot seal include:
- Reckless driving, unless you were under 25 at the time of the offense and you don’t have any other convictions for reckless driving or DUI)
- Driving under the influence
- Domestic battery
- Violation of an order of protection, a civil no-contact order or a stalking no-contact order
- Soliciting or patronizing a prostitute
- Felony public indecency
- Any misdemeanor listed under Article 11 of the Criminal Code (which are primarily sex offenses)
- Any offense that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act
- Dog fighting
- Class A misdemeanors under the Humane Care for Animals Act
Related: Can you seal an animal cruelty conviction in Illinois?
If you have had felony convictions sealed in the past and you’re convicted of a new felony, the new felony can’t be sealed under most circumstances. Sometimes the old convictions can even be unsealed.
Related: Veterans and criminal record expungement in Chicago
o You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Criminal Record Sealing?
If you’d like to talk to an attorney about sealing your criminal record, we’re here. Call us at 847-920-4540 for a free case review with an experienced attorney now – if we can help you, we will.
