Your criminal record is available to and accessible by the general public. It can be viewed by potential employers, college admission officers, landlords and law enforcement officers. Criminal records (including traffic violations) are not automatically sealed or expunged. You must file a petition and a judge ultimately decides whether or not to seal or expunge your record.

The process, from filing your petition to when the final order is effective usually takes 6-8 months in Cook County, so don’t put this off! You want to make sure your record has been updated before you apply for school, or a job.

Depending on your individual circumstances, your record may eligible to be sealed or expunged.

A sealed record can only be accessed by running a fingerprint background check. Some organizations that use fingerprint background checks are: law enforcement, Chicago Public Schools, security firms. A sealed record cannot be accessed by the general public. A record that has been expunged is destroyed. It cannot be seen or accessed by anyone. In Illinois, only petitioners with no convictions are eligible to have their record expunged.

The first step you need to take is to get a copy of your rap sheet. In Cook county this can be obtained at 3510 S. Michigan Ave {insert map link}. As of January 2013, the cost is $16. In Lake County, there is no central location so please contact us for more information.

Links to: NYT article about data centers who don’t update records
IL Human Rights Act (cannot use arrest in making employment decision)