Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 093-1084
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Public Act 093-1084


 

Public Act 1084 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 


 
Public Act 093-1084
 
SB3007 Enrolled LRB093 21097 RLC 47145 b

    AN ACT concerning the sealing of criminal records.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Criminal Identification Act is amended by
changing Sections 5, 12, and 13 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2630/5)  (from Ch. 38, par. 206-5)
    Sec. 5. Arrest reports; expungement.
    (a) All policing bodies of this State shall furnish to the
Department, daily, in the form and detail the Department
requires, fingerprints and descriptions of all persons who are
arrested on charges of violating any penal statute of this
State for offenses that are classified as felonies and Class A
or B misdemeanors and of all minors of the age of 10 and over
who have been arrested for an offense which would be a felony
if committed by an adult, and may forward such fingerprints and
descriptions for minors arrested for Class A or B misdemeanors.
Moving or nonmoving traffic violations under the Illinois
Vehicle Code shall not be reported except for violations of
Chapter 4, Section 11-204.1, or Section 11-501 of that Code. In
addition, conservation offenses, as defined in the Supreme
Court Rule 501(c), that are classified as Class B misdemeanors
shall not be reported.
    Whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult, not
having previously been convicted of any criminal offense or
municipal ordinance violation, charged with a violation of a
municipal ordinance or a felony or misdemeanor, is acquitted or
released without being convicted, whether the acquittal or
release occurred before, on, or after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of 1991, the Chief Judge of the circuit
wherein the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit
designated by the Chief Judge, or in counties of less than
3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at the
defendant's trial may upon verified petition of the defendant
order the record of arrest expunged from the official records
of the arresting authority and the Department and order that
the records of the clerk of the circuit court be sealed until
further order of the court upon good cause shown and the name
of the defendant obliterated on the official index required to
be kept by the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the
Clerks of Courts Act, but the order shall not affect any index
issued by the circuit court clerk before the entry of the
order. The Department may charge the petitioner a fee
equivalent to the cost of processing any order to expunge or
seal the records, and the fee shall be deposited into the State
Police Services Fund. The records of those arrests, however,
that result in a disposition of supervision for any offense
shall not be expunged from the records of the arresting
authority or the Department nor impounded by the court until 2
years after discharge and dismissal of supervision. Those
records that result from a supervision for a violation of
Section 3-707, 3-708, 3-710, 5-401.3, or 11-503 of the Illinois
Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, or
for a violation of Section 12-3.2, 12-15 or 16A-3 of the
Criminal Code of 1961, or probation under Section 10 of the
Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled
Substances Act, Section 12-4.3(b)(1) and (2) of the Criminal
Code of 1961 (as those provisions existed before their deletion
by Public Act 89-313), Section 10-102 of the Illinois
Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency Act when the judgment of
conviction has been vacated, Section 40-10 of the Alcoholism
and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act when the judgment of
conviction has been vacated, or Section 10 of the Steroid
Control Act shall not be expunged from the records of the
arresting authority nor impounded by the court until 5 years
after termination of probation or supervision. Those records
that result from a supervision for a violation of Section
11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a
local ordinance, shall not be expunged. All records set out
above may be ordered by the court to be expunged from the
records of the arresting authority and impounded by the court
after 5 years, but shall not be expunged by the Department, but
shall, on court order be sealed by the Department and may be
disseminated by the Department only as required by law or to
the arresting authority, the State's Attorney, and the court
upon a later arrest for the same or a similar offense or for
the purpose of sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon
conviction for any offense, the Department of Corrections shall
have access to all sealed records of the Department pertaining
to that individual.
    (a-5) Those records maintained by the Department for
persons arrested prior to their 17th birthday shall be expunged
as provided in Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
    (b) Whenever a person has been convicted of a crime or of
the violation of a municipal ordinance, in the name of a person
whose identity he has stolen or otherwise come into possession
of, the aggrieved person from whom the identity was stolen or
otherwise obtained without authorization, upon learning of the
person having been arrested using his identity, may, upon
verified petition to the chief judge of the circuit wherein the
arrest was made, have a court order entered nunc pro tunc by
the chief judge to correct the arrest record, conviction
record, if any, and all official records of the arresting
authority, the Department, other criminal justice agencies,
the prosecutor, and the trial court concerning such arrest, if
any, by removing his name from all such records in connection
with the arrest and conviction, if any, and by inserting in the
records the name of the offender, if known or ascertainable, in
lieu of the aggrieved's name. The records of the clerk of the
circuit court clerk shall be sealed until further order of the
court upon good cause shown and the name of the aggrieved
person obliterated on the official index required to be kept by
the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of
Courts Act, but the order shall not affect any index issued by
the circuit court clerk before the entry of the order. Nothing
in this Section shall limit the Department of State Police or
other criminal justice agencies or prosecutors from listing
under an offender's name the false names he or she has used.
For purposes of this Section, convictions for moving and
nonmoving traffic violations other than convictions for
violations of Chapter 4, Section 11-204.1 or Section 11-501 of
the Illinois Vehicle Code shall not be a bar to expunging the
record of arrest and court records for violation of a
misdemeanor or municipal ordinance.
    (c) Whenever a person who has been convicted of an offense
is granted a pardon by the Governor which specifically
authorizes expungement, he may, upon verified petition to the
chief judge of the circuit where the person had been convicted,
any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or in
counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding
trial judge at the defendant's trial, may have a court order
entered expunging the record of arrest from the official
records of the arresting authority and order that the records
of the clerk of the circuit court and the Department be sealed
until further order of the court upon good cause shown or as
otherwise provided herein, and the name of the defendant
obliterated from the official index requested to be kept by the
circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts
Act in connection with the arrest and conviction for the
offense for which he had been pardoned but the order shall not
affect any index issued by the circuit court clerk before the
entry of the order. All records sealed by the Department may be
disseminated by the Department only as required by law or to
the arresting authority, the State's Attorney, and the court
upon a later arrest for the same or similar offense or for the
purpose of sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon
conviction for any subsequent offense, the Department of
Corrections shall have access to all sealed records of the
Department pertaining to that individual. Upon entry of the
order of expungement, the clerk of the circuit court shall
promptly mail a copy of the order to the person who was
pardoned.
    (c-5) Whenever a person has been convicted of criminal
sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory
criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or
aggravated criminal sexual abuse, the victim of that offense
may request that the State's Attorney of the county in which
the conviction occurred file a verified petition with the
presiding trial judge at the defendant's trial to have a court
order entered to seal the records of the clerk of the circuit
court in connection with the proceedings of the trial court
concerning that offense. However, the records of the arresting
authority and the Department of State Police concerning the
offense shall not be sealed. The court, upon good cause shown,
shall make the records of the clerk of the circuit court in
connection with the proceedings of the trial court concerning
the offense available for public inspection.
    (c-6) If a conviction has been set aside on direct review
or on collateral attack and the court determines by clear and
convincing evidence that the defendant was factually innocent
of the charge, the court shall enter an expungement order as
provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-5-4 of the Unified Code
of Corrections.
    (d) Notice of the petition for subsections (a), (b), and
(c) shall be served upon the State's Attorney or prosecutor
charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the
Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief
legal officer of the unit of local government affecting the
arrest. Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the
Department of State Police, the arresting agency or such chief
legal officer objects to the petition within 30 days from the
date of the notice, the court shall enter an order granting or
denying the petition. The clerk of the court shall promptly
mail a copy of the order to the person, the arresting agency,
the prosecutor, the Department of State Police and such other
criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the judge.
    (e) Nothing herein shall prevent the Department of State
Police from maintaining all records of any person who is
admitted to probation upon terms and conditions and who
fulfills those terms and conditions pursuant to Section 10 of
the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the Illinois
Controlled Substances Act, Section 12-4.3 of the Criminal Code
of 1961, Section 10-102 of the Illinois Alcoholism and Other
Drug Dependency Act, Section 40-10 of the Alcoholism and Other
Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, or Section 10 of the Steroid
Control Act.
    (f) No court order issued under pursuant to the expungement
provisions of this Section shall become final for purposes of
appeal until 30 days after notice is received by the
Department. Any court order contrary to the provisions of this
Section is void.
    (g) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c-5) of
this Section, the court shall not order the sealing or
expungement of the arrest records and records of the circuit
court clerk of any person granted supervision for or convicted
of any sexual offense committed against a minor under 18 years
of age. For the purposes of this Section, "sexual offense
committed against a minor" includes but is not limited to the
offenses of indecent solicitation of a child or criminal sexual
abuse when the victim of such offense is under 18 years of age.
    (h) (1) Applicability. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Act to the contrary and cumulative with any rights to
expungement of criminal records, this subsection authorizes
the sealing of criminal records of adults and of minors
prosecuted as adults.
    (2) Sealable offenses. The following offenses may be
sealed:
        (A) All municipal ordinance violations and
    misdemeanors, with the exception of the following:
            (i) violations of Section 11-501 of the Illinois
        Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local
        ordinance;
            (ii) violations of Article 11 of the Criminal Code
        of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance,
        except Section 11-14 of the Criminal Code of 1961 as
        provided in clause B(i) of this subsection (h);
            (iii) violations of Section 12-15, 12-30, or 26-5
        of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of
        a local ordinance;
            (iv) violations that are a crime of violence as
        defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation
        Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance;
            (v) Class A misdemeanor violations of the Humane
        Care for Animals Act; and
            (vi) any offense or attempted offense that would
        subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender
        Registration Act.
        (B) Misdemeanor and Class 4 felony violations of:
            (i) Section 11-14 of the Criminal Code of 1961;
            (ii) Section 4 of the Cannabis Control Act;
            (iii) Section 402 of the Illinois Controlled
        Substances Act; and
            (iv) However, for purposes of this subsection (h),
        a sentence of first offender probation under Section 10
        of the Cannabis Control Act and Section 410 of the
        Illinois Controlled Substances Act shall be treated as
        a Class 4 felony conviction.
    (3) Requirements for sealing. Records identified as
sealable under clause (h) (2) may be sealed when the individual
was:
        (A) Acquitted of the offense or offenses or released
    without being convicted.
        (B) Convicted of the offense or offenses and the
    conviction or convictions were reversed.
        (C) Placed on misdemeanor supervision for an offense or
    offenses; and
            (i) at least 3 years have elapsed since the
        completion of the term of supervision, or terms of
        supervision, if more than one term has been ordered;
        and
            (ii) the individual has not been convicted of a
        felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a
        misdemeanor or felony during the period specified in
        clause (i).
        (D) Convicted of an offense or offenses; and
            (i) at least 4 years have elapsed since the last
        such conviction or term of any sentence, probation,
        parole, or supervision, if any, whichever is last in
        time; and
            (ii) the individual has not been convicted of a
        felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a
        misdemeanor or felony during the period specified in
        clause (i).
    (4) Requirements for sealing of records when more than one
charge and disposition have been filed. When multiple offenses
are petitioned to be sealed under this subsection (h), the
requirements of the relevant provisions of clauses (h)(3)(A)
through (D) each apply. In instances in which more than one
waiting period is applicable under clauses (h)(C)(i) and (ii)
and (h)(D)(i) and (ii), the longer applicable period applies,
and the requirements of clause (h) (3) shall be considered met
when the petition is filed after the passage of the longer
applicable waiting period. That period commences on the date of
the completion of the last sentence or the end of supervision,
probation, or parole, whichever is last in time.
    (5) Subsequent convictions. A person may not have
subsequent felony conviction records sealed as provided in this
subsection (h) if he or she is convicted of any felony offense
after the date of the sealing of prior felony records as
provided in this subsection (h).
    (6) Notice of eligibility for sealing. Upon acquittal,
release without conviction, or being placed on supervision for
a sealable offense, or upon conviction of a sealable offense,
the person shall be informed by the court of the right to have
the records sealed and the procedures for the sealing of the
records.
    (7) Procedure. Upon becoming eligible for the sealing of
records under this subsection (h), the person who seeks the
sealing of his or her records shall file a petition requesting
the sealing of records with the clerk of the court where the
charge or charges were brought. The records may be sealed by
the Chief Judge of the circuit wherein the charge was brought,
any judge of that circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or in
counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding
trial judge at the defendant's trial, if any. If charges were
brought in multiple jurisdictions, a petition must be filed in
each such jurisdiction. The petitioner shall pay the applicable
fee, if not waived.
        (A) Contents of petition. The petition shall contain
    the petitioner's name, date of birth, current address, each
    charge, each case number, the date of each charge, the
    identity of the arresting authority, and such other
    information as the court may require. During the pendency
    of the proceeding, the petitioner shall promptly notify the
    clerk of the court of any change of address.
        (B) Drug test. A person filing a petition to have his
    or her records sealed for a Class 4 felony violation of
    Section 4 of the Cannabis Control Act or for a Class 4
    felony violation of Section 402 of the Illinois Controlled
    Substances Act must attach to the petition proof that the
    petitioner has passed a test taken within the previous 30
    days before the filing of the petition showing the absence
    within his or her body of all illegal substances in
    violation of either the Illinois Controlled Substances Act
    or the Cannabis Control Act.
        (C) Service of petition. The clerk shall promptly serve
    a copy of the petition on the State's Attorney or
    prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the
    offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting
    agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local
    government effecting the arrest.
        (D) Entry of order. Unless the State's Attorney or
    prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the arresting
    agency or such chief legal officer objects to sealing of
    the records within 90 days of notice the court shall enter
    an order sealing the defendant's records.
        (E) Hearing upon objection. If an objection is filed,
    the court shall set a date for a hearing and notify the
    petitioner and the parties on whom the petition had been
    served, and shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of
    the records should or should not be granted, and shall make
    a determination on whether to issue an order to seal the
    records based on the evidence presented at the hearing.
        (F) Service of order. After entering the order to seal
    records, the court must provide copies of the order to the
    Department, in a form and manner prescribed by the
    Department, to the petitioner, to the State's Attorney or
    prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the
    offense, to the arresting agency, to the chief legal
    officer of the unit of local government effecting the
    arrest, and to such other criminal justice agencies as may
    be ordered by the court.
    (8) Fees. Notwithstanding any provision of the Clerk of the
Courts Act to the contrary, and subject to the approval of the
county board, the clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost
associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the
Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the
Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department
and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.
    
    (h) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to
the contrary and cumulative with any rights to expungement of
criminal records, whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an
adult charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a
misdemeanor is acquitted or released without being convicted,
or if the person is convicted but the conviction is reversed,
or if the person has been placed on supervision for a
misdemeanor and has not been convicted of a felony or
misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor within 3
years after the acquittal or release or reversal of conviction,
or the completion of the terms and conditions of the
supervision, if the acquittal, release, finding of not guilty,
or reversal of conviction occurred on or after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the
Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought may
have the official records of the arresting authority, the
Department, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 3 years
after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty,
the reversal of conviction, or the completion of the terms and
conditions of the supervision, except those records are subject
to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of
subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations
and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's
Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of
their offices. This subsection (h) does not apply to persons
placed on supervision for: (1) a violation of Section 11 501 of
the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local
ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of the
Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local
ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor violation of Section 12 15, 12 30,
or 26 5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a
local ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of
violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims
Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance;
(5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for
Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would
subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender
Registration Act.
    (2) Upon acquittal, release without conviction, or being
placed on supervision, the person charged with the offense
shall be informed by the court of the right to have the records
sealed and the procedures for the sealing of the records. Three
years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not
guilty, the reversal of conviction, or the completion of the
terms and conditions of the supervision, the defendant shall
provide the clerk of the court with a notice of request for
sealing of records and payment of the applicable fee and a
current address and shall promptly notify the clerk of the
court of any change of address. The clerk shall promptly serve
notice that the person's records are to be sealed on the
State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of
prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the
arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of
local government effecting the arrest. Unless the State's
Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the
arresting agency or such chief legal officer objects to sealing
of the records within 90 days of notice the court shall enter
an order sealing the defendant's records 3 years after the
dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, the
reversal of conviction, or the completion of the terms and
conditions of the supervision. The clerk of the court shall
promptly serve by mail or in person a copy of the order to the
person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of
State Police and such other criminal justice agencies as may be
ordered by the judge. If an objection is filed, the court shall
set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear
evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should
not be granted.
    (3) The clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost
associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the
Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the
Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department
and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.
    (4) Whenever sealing of records is required under this
subsection (h), the notification of the sealing must be given
by the circuit court where the arrest occurred to the
Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.
    (5) An adult or a minor prosecuted as an adult who was
charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a
misdemeanor who was acquitted, released without being
convicted, convicted and the conviction was reversed, or placed
on supervision for a misdemeanor before the date of this
amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and was not
convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision
for a misdemeanor for 3 years after the acquittal or release or
reversal of conviction, or completion of the terms and
conditions of the supervision may petition the Chief Judge of
the circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of that
circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of the
circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or, in counties of less
than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at that
defendant's trial, to seal the official records of the
arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the
court, except those records are subject to inspection and use
by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for
misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law
enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, and
State's Attorneys and other prosecutors in carrying out the
duties of their offices. This subsection (h) does not apply to
persons placed on supervision for: (1) a violation of Section
11 501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a
local ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of
the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local
ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor violation of Section 12 15, 12 30,
or 26 5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a
local ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of
violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims
Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance;
(5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for
Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would
subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender
Registration Act. The State's Attorney or prosecutor charged
with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of
State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer
of the unit of local government effecting the arrest shall be
served with a copy of the verified petition and shall have 90
days to object. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a
date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence
on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be
granted. The person whose records are sealed under the
provisions of this Act shall pay to the clerk of the court and
the Department of State Police a fee equivalent to the cost
associated with the sealing of records. The fees shall be paid
to the clerk of the court who shall forward the appropriate
portion to the Department at the time the court order to seal
the defendant's record is forwarded to the Department for
processing. The Department of State Police portion of the fee
shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.
    (i) (1) any other provision of this Act to the contrary and
cumulative with any rights to expungement of criminal records,
whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult charged with
a violation of a municipal ordinance or a misdemeanor is
convicted of a misdemeanor and has not been convicted of a
felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a
misdemeanor within 4 years after the completion of the
sentence, if the conviction occurred on or after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the
Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought may
have the official records of the arresting authority, the
Department, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 4 years
after the completion of the sentence, except those records are
subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of
subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations
and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's
Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of
their offices. This subsection (i) does not apply to persons
convicted of: (1) a violation of Section 11 501 of the Illinois
Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) a
misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of
1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (3) a
misdemeanor violation of Section 12 15, 12 30, or 26 5 of the
Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local
ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of
violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims
Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance;
(5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for
Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would
subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender
Registration Act.
    (2) Upon the conviction of such offense, the person charged
with the offense shall be informed by the court of the right to
have the records sealed and the procedures for the sealing of
the records. Four years after the completion of the sentence,
the defendant shall provide the clerk of the court with a
notice of request for sealing of records and payment of the
applicable fee and a current address and shall promptly notify
the clerk of the court of any change of address. The clerk
shall promptly serve notice that the person's records are to be
sealed on the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the
duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State
Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the
unit of local government effecting the arrest. Unless the
State's Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police,
the arresting agency or such chief legal officer objects to
sealing of the records within 90 days of notice the court shall
enter an order sealing the defendant's records 4 years after
the completion of the sentence. The clerk of the court shall
promptly serve by mail or in person a copy of the order to the
person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of
State Police and such other criminal justice agencies as may be
ordered by the judge. If an objection is filed, the court shall
set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear
evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should
not be granted.
    (3) The clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost
associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the
Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the
Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department
and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.
    (4) Whenever sealing of records is required under this
subsection (i), the notification of the sealing must be given
by the circuit court where the arrest occurred to the
Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.
    (5) An adult or a minor prosecuted as an adult who was
charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a
misdemeanor who was convicted of a misdemeanor before the date
of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and was not
convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision
for a misdemeanor for 4 years after the completion of the
sentence may petition the Chief Judge of the circuit in which
the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit in which the
charge was brought, any judge of the circuit designated by the
Chief Judge, or, in counties of less than 3,000,000
inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at that defendant's
trial, to seal the official records of the arresting authority,
the Department, and the clerk of the court, except those
records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the
purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony
violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies,
the Department of Corrections, and State's Attorneys and other
prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. This
subsection (i) does not apply to persons convicted of: (1) a
violation of Section 11 501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a
similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor
violation of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a
similar provision of a local ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor
violation of Section 12 15, 12 30, or 26 5 of the Criminal Code
of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (4) a
misdemeanor violation that is a crime of violence as defined in
Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act or a similar
provision of a local ordinance; (5) a Class A misdemeanor
violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act; or (6) any
offense or attempted offense that would subject a person to
registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act. The
State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of
prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the
arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of
local government effecting the arrest shall be served with a
copy of the verified petition and shall have 90 days to object.
If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for
hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on
whether the sealing of the records should or should not be
granted. The person whose records are sealed under the
provisions of this Act shall pay to the clerk of the court and
the Department of State Police a fee equivalent to the cost
associated with the sealing of records. The fees shall be paid
to the clerk of the court who shall forward the appropriate
portion to the Department at the time the court order to seal
the defendant's record is forwarded to the Department for
processing. The Department of State Police portion of the fee
shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.
    (i) Subject to available funding, the Illinois Department
of Corrections shall conduct a study of the impact of sealing,
especially on employment and recidivism rates, utilizing a
random sample of those who apply for the sealing of their
criminal records under Public Act 93-211, in accordance to
rules adopted by the Department. At the request of the Illinois
Department of Corrections, records of the Illinois Department
of Employment Security shall be utilized as appropriate to
assist in the study. The study shall not disclose any data in a
manner that would allow the identification of any particular
individual or employing unit. The study shall be made available
to the General Assembly no later than September 1, 2006.
(Source: P.A. 92-651, eff. 7-11-02; 93-210, eff. 7-18-03;
93-211, eff. 1-1-04; revised 8-25-03.)
 
    20 ILCS 2630/12)
    Sec. 12. Entry of order; effect of expungement or sealing
records.
    (a) Except with respect to law enforcement agencies, the
Department of Corrections, State's Attorneys, or other
prosecutors, and as provided in Section 13 of this Act, an
expunged or sealed record may not be considered by any private
or public entity in employment matters, certification,
licensing, revocation of certification or licensure, or
registration. Applications for employment must contain
specific language which states that the applicant is not
obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction
or arrest. Employers may not ask if an applicant has had
records expunged or sealed.
    (b) A person whose records have been sealed or expunged is
not entitled to remission of any fines, costs, or other money
paid as a consequence of the sealing or expungement. This
amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly does not affect the
right of the victim of a crime to prosecute or defend a civil
action for damages. Persons engaged in civil litigation
involving criminal records that have been sealed may petition
the court to open the records for the limited purpose of using
them in the course of litigation.
(Source: P.A. 93-211, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    (20 ILCS 2630/13)
    Sec. 13. Retention and release of sealed records Prohibited
conduct; misdemeanor; penalty.
    (a) The Department of State Police shall retain records
sealed under subsection subsections (h) and (i) of Section 5
and shall release them only as authorized by this Act. Felony
records The sealed under subsection (h) of Section 5 records
shall be used and disseminated by the Department only as
otherwise specifically required or authorized by a federal or
State law, rule, or regulation that requires inquiry into and
release of criminal records, including, but not limited to,
subsection (A) of Section 3 of this Act. However, all requests
for records that have been expunged, sealed, and impounded and
the use of those records are subject to the provisions of
Section 2-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act allowed by law.
Upon conviction for any offense, the Department of Corrections
shall have access to all sealed records of the Department
pertaining to that individual.
    (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, all sealed records are
subject to inspection and use by the court and inspection and
use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other
prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices.
    (c) (b) The sealed records maintained under subsection (a)
are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information
Act.
    (d) The Department of State Police shall commence the
sealing of records of felony arrests and felony convictions
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 5 of
this Act no later than one year from the date that funds have
been made available for purposes of establishing the
technologies necessary to implement the changes made by this
amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 93-211, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    Section 10. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
changing Section 2-103 as follows:
 
    (775 ILCS 5/2-103)  (from Ch. 68, par. 2-103)
    Sec. 2-103. Arrest Record.
    (A) Unless otherwise authorized by law, it is a civil
rights violation for any employer, employment agency or labor
organization to inquire into or to use the fact of an arrest or
criminal history record information ordered expunged, sealed
or impounded under Section 5 of the Criminal Identification Act
as a basis to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with
respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of
employment, selection for training or apprenticeship,
discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or
conditions of employment. This Section does not prohibit a
State agency, unit of local government or school district, or
private organization from requesting or utilizing sealed
felony conviction information obtained from the Department of
State Police under the provisions of Section 3 of the Criminal
Identification Act or under other State or federal laws or
regulations that require criminal background checks in
evaluating the qualifications and character of an employee or a
prospective employee.
    (B) The prohibition against the use of the fact of an
arrest contained in this Section shall not be construed to
prohibit an employer, employment agency, or labor organization
from obtaining or using other information which indicates that
a person actually engaged in the conduct for which he or she
was arrested.
(Source: P.A. 89-370, eff. 8-18-95.)

Effective Date: 6/1/2005