Welcome to Records Removal Services! We remove criminal records by either expungement, seal, or pardon. Current laws allow your criminal records to be visible to everyone resulting in the loss of jobs, housing, and credit opportunities until you expunge, set-aside, or vacate your court and arrest records.

Expungement, pardons, and sealing records in the State of Illinois

Under the old Criminal Identification Act, only qualifying misdemeanors could be
sealed.  However, the Illinois Legislature passed new laws effective June 1, 2005, making it possible for Class 4 Felony Drug Possession and Class 4 Felony
Prostitution convictions to be eligible to be sealed 4 years after the sentence is
completed.

The Criminal Identification Act was designed to expunge and seal criminal records. It does not apply to traffic tickets, divorces or orders of protection. For example, if somebody had an order of protection entered against you, that cannot be expunged.

Felonies in the State of Illinois:

• Most felony arrests and convictions cannot be expunged or sealed without a pardon which specifically authorizes expungement.  There are a few exceptions, however; arrests and convictions for Class 4 Felony Drug Possession and Class 4 Felony Prostitution cases may qualify to be sealed.

• Felony arrests that do not result in a conviction may be expunged.

Misdemeanors in the State of Illinois:

• Most misdemeanor convictions in Illinois can be expunged or sealed.

Class 4 Felony Drug Possession:

• If you are asking to have your class Class 4 Felony Drug Possession case sealed, the Criminal Identification Act requires that you attach proof to your petition that you have passed a drug test taken within 30 days before you file your petition. 20 ILCS 2630/5(h)(7)(B). 

• Only drug convictions for “simple” possession cases can be sealed. Drug
  convictions for “possession with intent” cannot be sealed.

Pardon in the State of Illinois:

• A pardon will remove the penalties and disabilities that resulted from the conviction and will restore all civil rights. The agencies holding the record will destroy the record or remove all mention of your name from the public record. It relieves the defendant of certain penalties and disabilities that result from a criminal action.

Once my record is expunged or sealed, do I have to tell employers about it?

• No, and it is against the law for employers or potential employers (except law enforcement, States Attorneys, the State Police, and the Department of Corrections) to ask you whether you ever had any records expunged or sealed.