One of the worst penalties for mistakes made or wrongful convictions is that a person has a criminal record for the rest of their life. That criminal record can prevent them from obtaining employment, housing, and other opportunities such as post-secondary scholarships. Due to this, those with past convictions often wonder if there is any way to get their record cleared, and the mark on it erased. This is often the case with those convicted of a DUI. So, is there any way to get a DUI expunged or sealed in Rolling Meadows?

Expunging a DUI

According to the Criminal Identification Act, expunging a record is the act of physically destroying it. Instead of the records being destroyed, the records may simply be given to the person named within them. Their name may also be removed from official and public record with regard to a certain crime.

Being convicted or charged with a crime has implications that last long after the prison or jail sentence has been served. A criminal record will undoubtedly haunt you for the rest of your life as you seek employment, apply for certain types of loans, find housing, and try to fit in with society again. Employment, in particular, can be difficult to procure if you have a criminal record, as employers often eliminate all applicants with records simply to protect themselves from negligent hiring lawsuits. Sadly, even innocent people are treated like criminals if they were arrested for a crime, but then never convicted. There are steps to take if you were arrested for a crime or convicted of a crime, such a expungement and sealing of criminal records, and a Cook County attorney may be able to help you in this process.

Record Sealing

Record sealing is the process of making a criminal record invisible to employers and the general public. Law enforcement, judges, and some other governmental entities may be able to access your criminal record even if it is sealed, however. And, not all crimes can be sealed. In fact, very few felony offenses can be placed under seal. Most misdemeanor crimes, however, can be sealed from public view. Although, misdemeanor offenses involving driving under the influence (DUI crimes), crimes of violence, and sexual crimes cannot be sealed, according to the Office of the State Appellate Director.

When you are convicted of a crime in Illinois, you may not want everyone to know that you have been convicted. Unfortunately, as a general rule, most criminal records are made available for public inspection. However, certain crimes may be eligible for expungement, which means that all records about that crime can be completely removed from the court records and indexes except for a copy that is provided to you, or sealing. Sealed records are kept confidential, and only a limited set of people may access them.

In some situations where you were charged with a crime, but not convicted, a criminal record will be generated, but it may also be eligible for expungement or sealing. Expungement of a criminal record is the best possible scenario, but sometimes it is not possible to obtain an expungement because the crime is ineligible. The next best option would be to try and have the record sealed.

What Does It Mean to Seal a Criminal Record in Illinois?

A person’s criminal record is available to and viewable by the public and many people who have a criminal record in their history find that the existence of that criminal record causes a lot of problems. A criminal record might prevent someone from getting a job opportunity, or a scholarship. It can even cause a person problems if they are trying to get into professional school. For those individuals with a criminal record, there is the possibility that your criminal record can be expunged.

What Is Expungement?

Expungement is a legal process for which eligible candidates can petition the court of their sentencing county, and, if successful, an expungement effectively erases past crimes, court supervisions, and certain probations from the individual’s criminal record. This means that your criminal record is cleared of any evidence of those particular convictions, supervisions, or probations. To think of this another way, expunged records are destroyed.

Under Illinois law, those convicted of certain crimes may be able to clear their criminal record. While this is a positive thing for many eligible people, the problem is that many are not aware of their option to do so. This often puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to education and employment opportunities after completing their sentences. However, according to a recent article, the clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court is working to spread awareness about the law so that people can take advantage of the benefits it offers in having their records expunged.

Expungement Summit

The clerk has been running a campaign for the last ten years aimed at educating offenders about their options to get their criminal records sealed or expunged. While she has made progress, there is still room for improvement, particularly among juvenile offenders. An educational summit will be held to continue the campaign. The goal is to let people know if they have an opportunity to expunge their court records, and to take advantage of the second chance it affords them to be law-abiding citizens and productive members of society. The law is aimed at removing as many obstacles as possible for people who are trying to better themselves and the life of their family. Many agencies and organizations from Cook County will be involved in hosting the event.