Governor JB Pritzker signed the bipartisan Clean Slate Act (HB 1836), a law that will automate the state’s record-sealing system process for individuals with certain non-violent convictions following a waiting period. Individuals with violent and serious convictions including murder, domestic battery, DUI, sex crimes, and other serious crimes are not eligible for record sealing under the Clean Slate Act. The bill also does not apply to any crimes that aren’t already eligible for sealing. The current record-sealing process varies for all 102 counties in Illinois and is often tedious and complex — relying on the individual to file a petition, obtain legal representation, and make court appearances, all resulting in significant costs. These challenges can deter eligible individuals under current sealing laws from pursuing this process entirely, hindering economic opportunities once an individual has served their time. Eligible Individuals:

• After completion of a sentence and a two-year (misdemeanor) or three year (felony) waiting period, eligible individuals’ records will be automatically sealed for qualifying misdemeanor and felony convictions.

• The records of individuals with dismissed or reversed charges, as well as the records of the underlying arrests, will also be automatically sealed at the conclusion of any case or court process.