Understanding Expungement – Important Info from a Chicago Defense Lawyer

A criminal record can have a highly detrimental effect on your life and living situation. Possessing a criminal record can make it difficult to find a good job, qualify for an apartment or other housing, get approved for a loan or any other form of financial assistance, or try to do anything that requires a background check.

If not properly addressed, a criminal record can haunt you for years, or even the rest of your life in some cases. It is vitally important for you to know that you have options if you find yourself in this situation.

Chicago expungement attorney Vadim A. Glozman will be able to help you through the process of expungement of these criminal records which will seal them and prevent them from being accessed by any individual doing a background check on you. Once a record is expunged, it is akin to a giant weight being lifted off your shoulders. You can apply for that home loan or for that dream job without worrying about a negative background check.

If you have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor offense you may be able to have that conviction wiped clean from your record. The legal process by which you can have a criminal conviction cleared from your record is called expungement. Only one conviction can be cleared at a time and not all convictions qualify for expungement.

Once a conviction has been expunged from your record, whenever you are required to disclose the existence of any previous convictions you can legally declare that you are arrest and conviction free. As you can imagine, this is a very great advantage for an individual who made a mistake in the past and is trying to get their life back in order.

Understanding the Difference Between Expungement and Sealing a Record

When a person has gone through the judicial process of defending themselves for their criminal charges, sentencing and any legal consequences they were given, there are two options to look into in order to make the information about your past either invisible to some, or completely disappear.

• Expungement – this process removes or erases arrests, charges and convictions from your legal record. This is generally the best option, as it basically wipes the slate clean, as if the negative items never existed. Not all crimes will be eligible for expungement, in which case record sealing may be a viable option.
• Record sealing – this process basically hides arrests, charges or convictions from public view. They will not be visible to anyone that runs a simple background check, but will still be available to law enforcement or anyone in the judicial system.

Overview of the Expungement Process

One of the first steps in the expungement process is securing a copy of your criminal record. This is important because your attorney will likely prefer to review any and all arrests in your past in order to determine if they can assist you. This means they will need information from all of your cases, even charges that were subsequently dismissed in court. This information should include the following:

• Type of charge;
• Case number;
• Courthouse information;
• Arresting police department;
• Final disposition (i.e. dismissal, not-guilty, guilty, etc.);
• Sentence (i.e. supervision, conditional discharge, probation, etc.); and
• Termination date of the sentence.

It may be necessary to order your records from the Illinois State Police, the county circuit clerk’s office(s), and/or the arresting police department(s).

Expungement and sealing laws are continuously changing and expanding. Illinois legislation has greatly expanded the number of offenses, including felony offenses, that are eligible to be sealed.

What Records Can Be Sealed

All misdemeanor and felony convictions are now eligible for sealing with the exception of the following offenses:

• DUI;
• Reckless driving (subject to certain exceptions);
• Domestic battery;
• Violations of orders of protection;
• Sex crimes (aside from prostitution and misdemeanor public indecency); and
• Crimes under the Humane Care for Animals Act.

Why You Need a Skilled Chicago Attorney To Help Guide You Through the Expungement Process

Chicago lawyer Vadim A. Glozman understand the strategies and procedures necessary to clear your record. It is very important that you seek qualified legal advice when attempting this process. Do not delay; contact Chicago attorney Glozman to receive a full evaluation so you can start the process of lifting the troublesome burden of a criminal record off your life and your future.

Glozman has the skill and the experience that you will need on your side. He has successfully assisted numerous individuals in the past through this process and he will be able to put his extensive experience to work for you in your case.

Contact Chicago expungement lawyer Glozman today to discuss your case, to determine if you are eligible for expungement and to begin the process of freeing yourself from this burden.