Certificate of Sealing

Starting January 1, 2014, the Legislature changed the law to allow for sealing of Class 3 and Class 4 of the following felony offenses:

Deceptive Practices, Theft, Forgery, Possession of Burglary Tools, Possession of Cannabis, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Possession with Intent to Deliver a controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony).

With these new offenses now being sealable at the county level, all persons who were convicted of the above offenses, should go to the Circuit Clerk's Office in the County where convicted and obtain a sealing packet. Once forms are completed, they may be filed with the Court to get those felonies sealed by a court order. This will be much quicker and will have the same result as obtaining a Certificate of Sealing.

CERTIFICATES OF SEALING

Any person may file for a Certificate of Sealing or an Executive Clemency, you may not file for both simultaneously. If you have a pending Executive Clemency petition, you will not be eligible to file for a Certificate of Sealing until a final decision has been made on your Executive Clemency petition or the pending Executive Clemency petition has been formally withdrawn.

The following offenses do not qualify for a Certificate of Sealing:

• Sex offenses
• Crimes of violence
• Domestic Violence cases, including:
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Violation of an Order of Protection
  • Domestic Battery
  • Aggravated Battery
  • Aggravated Domestic Battery
• Gun cases
• Driving Under the Influence cases

If you have been convicted of a Class 3 or Class 4 felony that was not listed above and was not a crime of violence, a sex offense, a domestic violence offense, a gun offense or a Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol offense, then you may be eligible for a Certificate of Sealing. The Certificate of Sealing can only be used with a one-time conviction of a Class 3 or 4 Felony.

Qualifying Convictions for Sealing

You must wait 5 years from the end of the sentence or 5 years from the last arrest before being eligible to file a petition.

If convicted of a drug offense, the completion of a drug program and proof of successful completion of a drug program must accompany the petition being filed before the Prisoner Review Board.

The petition shall contain the following:

• brief history of the case
• brief biography of the petitioner
• setting forth his/her full and correct name
• any aliases he/she may have used
• age
• place of birth
• the different places where the petitioner has resided
• the years of residence in each place resided
• the occupations pursued in each locality
• the specific reasons why they need the certificate of sealing.

Application Process for Certificate of Sealing:

The following forms must be filled out, completed, signed and returned as part of the petition:

Certificate of Sealing Acknowledgement Form

Certificate of Sealing Application

Guidelines for Certificate of Sealing

The petitioner shall sign the petition attesting to the petition's truthfulness and his/her signature will be notarized. If the petitioner is unable to sign the petition, then proof of Power of Attorney/Guardianship must be provided with the petition and explanation as to why the petitioner was unable to sign the petition.

The Board will then decide to deny or grant the Certificate of Sealing or to request the petitioner to attend a public hearing which will be located in Springfield or Chicago on a determined set of dates and times. If denied a certificate, then the petitioner must wait four years before refiling or filing for an Executive Clemency unless granted a waiver of the time period by the Chairman of the Board.

If the Board grants a Certificate of Sealing, then a petition can be filed in the Circuit Court for the court to issue an Order of Sealing of Records. If the court orders the sealing of the record, then private companies, individuals and the general public will not be able to see the conviction.

Filing dates and locations of hearings (if appearance is requested by the Board)*:         

October 8, 2024 to October 10, 2024

•     Hearings held in Chicago, Il at Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160  N. La Salle, Chicago, IL
•     Deadline for petition:  July 24, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.

January 7, 2025 to January 9, 2025

•     Hearing held in Springfield, IL  (Location TBD)
•     Deadline for petition:  October 24, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
  

April 8, 2025 to April 10, 2025

•     Hearings held in Chicago, IL (Location TBD)
•     Deadline for petition:  January 22, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.

July 8, 2025 to July 20, 2025

•     Hearings held in Chicago, IL  (Location TBD)
•     Deadline for petition:  April 24, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.

  October 7, 2025 to October 9, 2025

•     Hearings held in Chicago, IL  (Location TBD)
•     Deadline for petitions:  July 24, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.        

*Dates and locations of hearings are subject to change or to be extended

Email:  PRB.Clemency@Illinois.gov