How To Get Your Criminal Record Expunged or Sealed

 

A Quick Guide

 

• Any charge (misdemeanor or felony) that resulted in a dismissal or a not guilty verdict can be expunged, provided you have no criminal history.
  
• Almost all juvenile records can be expunged.
  
• Almost all misdemeanors that resulted in court supervision can be expunged.
• Almost all misdemeanor offenses that resulted in a conviction can be sealed.
• Felony convictions and driving under the influence (DUI) supervisions and convictions cannot be expunged or sealed.
• There are limited exceptions that allow felony convictions to be sealed:
• If you successfully completed Section 570, 1410, or 410 probation (generally referred to as special 410 probation for unlawful possession of cannabis or a controlled substance), you may expunge that record.
• Class 4 felony convictions for unlawful possession of a controlled substance may be sealed provided there are no other supervisions or convictions on your record (but you must wait four years after the end of your sentence).
• Class 4 felony convictions for prostitution also may be sealed if there are no other supervisions or convictions on your record (but you must wait four years after the end of your sentence).
• Chicago expungement lawyer Lewis Gainor is available to answer your questions about erasing your criminal record. He serves courthouses in Cook County (Daley Center, Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview, Markham, Harrison, and 26th & California), DuPage County (Wheaton), Lake County (Waukegan), and Will County (Joliet).