Criminal Record Expungement and Sealing

 Posted on December 14, 2018 in Expungement

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.

Record Expungement

Having an arrest record expunged is similar to having a criminal record sealed, except that in expungement, you are only seeking to have the arrest record erased so that public entities and employers can no longer see it. No matter what type of crime you were charged with, arrested for, interrogated about, and placed on trial for, it can be erased from the public record if you were found innocent. Your arrest record includes your fingerprints, mug shot, and more. Unfortunately, even an arrest record can seriously harm your future career and social standing within your community. Additionally, juvenile offenses, some probations, and some supervisions can be expunged from the public record as well. Record expungement involves complete destruction of the charges and offenses, unlike record sealing.

Contact a Cook County Record Expungement and Record Sealing Attorney

Record sealing and record expungement are long, complicated processes. Many people are denied simply because they became overwhelmed and did not understand how to properly file. Others are denied because their offenses are crimes that cannot be sealed, and they wasted time, money, and energy on a task that was doomed to fail. Whether you have recently been charged with a crime and need a criminal defense attorney, or you were previously charged and either convicted or proven innocent, the Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley can provide the legal assistance that you need. Call us at 847-394-3200 to schedule a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www2.illinois.gov/osad/Expungement/Documents/Crinminal%20Exp%20Guide/ExpungementSealingOverview.pdf