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Know About Clean Slate House Bill 1836
All information in this article is from Clean Slate Illinois. As a reminder, we do not have attorneys on staff at CTJC, and this does not serve as legal advice. For more information, visit cleanslateillinois.org or consult your attorney.
1.How will Illinois be ready to automate the record sealing process?
The Clean Slate Act includes an implementation timeline to give agencies the necessary time to prepare. It establishes the Clean Slate Task Force, a five-year oversight body composed of key stakeholders, legislators, advocates, and members of the public. The Task Force will guide implementation by reviewing best practices and case studies from other states, and by helping develop effective communication channels and procedures for accurate record matching.
2.How will the Clean Slate (automated sealing) process work?
Under the Clean Slate process, the Illinois State Police (ISP) will identify records eligible for automatic sealing and notify the circuit clerk in all 102 counties through the statewide e-filing system. Circuit clerks will then seal the records and send notice to arresting agencies.
3.Who oversees the Clean Slate Task Force?
The Task Force meets quarterly and reports annually to the Illinois General Assembly. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is responsible for administrative support.
4.What convictions are eligible for automatic sealing under Clean Slate?
All misdemeanor convictions, ordinance violations, and Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 felony convictions are eligible for automatic sealing unless listed below.
5.Convictions Ineligible under Petition-Based and Automatic Sealing
Sex Offenses under Article 11 of the Criminal Code (except Prostitution or misdemeanor public indecency) Domestic Battery and Aggravated Battery of an Unborn Child Violations of Orders of Protection, Violations of Stalking No Contact Order, or Violation of Civil No Contact Order Dog Fighting and any other Class A misdemeanor or felony conviction under the Humane Care for Animals Act (510 ILCS 70/) Driving Under the Influence or Reckless Driving Any conviction requiring registration on the Sex Offense Registration Act
6.Convictions Ineligible for Automatic Sealing (remains eligible for petition-based sealing)
Class X Felonies Homicide Offenses under Article 9 of the Criminal Code Convictions for Robbery, Residential Burglary, Burglary (Class 1 or 2 only), Vehicular Hijacking, Trafficking, Indentured Servitude, and Organized Retail Crime Convictions for a “Crime of Violence” as defined by the Drug Court Treatment Act (730 ILCS 166/20), which ncludes the following (not already listed specifically above): Armed Robbery, Arson, Kidnapping, Aggravated Battery Resulting in Great Bodily Harm or Permanent Injury, Stalking, Home Invasion,
Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, or any offense involving discharge of a firearm
7.What if a conviction is not eligible for automatic sealing under Clean Slate?
If a conviction record is not eligible for automatic sealing, but is eligible under current law (convictions above), they can still file a petition in court if the waiting period has passed.
8.What other types of records are eligible for automatic sealing under Clean Slate?
Clean Slate covers non-conviction records too! Non-conviction records include cases resulting in dismissal, acquittal, and successfully completed supervision and qualified probation sentences programs (710-1410 probation, TASC probation, Second Chance probation).
9.What other types of records are eligible for automatic sealing under Clean Slate?
Clean Slate covers non-conviction records too! Non-conviction records include cases resulting in dismissal, acquittal, and successfully completed supervision and qualified probation sentences programs (710-1410 probation, TASC probation, Second Chance probation).
10.When will the automated sealing process start in Illinois?
The Illinois State Police (ISP) will begin to develop and program its criminal history record systems on July 1, 2026. The system is set to go live on January 1, 2029. There are two timelines: records created after January 1, 2029, and records created between 1970 and January 1, 2029.
11.When are records eligible for automatic sealing under Clean Slate?
Eligible cases after January 1, 2029 will be automatically sealed based on the timelines below.* Dismissals and Acquittals Immediately after conclusion of the case Supervision + Qualified Probation 2 after after completion of sentence Misdemeanor + Ordinance Convictions 2 after after completion of sentence Felony Convictions 3 years after completion of last felony conviction sentence
12.When will cases before 2029 be automatically sealed under Clean Slate?
A phased process to seal past eligible criminal records is based on the timelines outlined in the table below, so long as the waiting period has been met, detailed below.*
13.Will multiple records qualify for automatic sealing under Clean Slate?
Yes. However, felony conviction records will not be automatically sealed until all felony conviction records have met the time frame above (3 years from completion of the last felony sentence or upon removal from a registry discussed below).+
14.Does anything besides conviction eligibility or timelines prevent the automatic sealing of records?
Records are not eligible for automatic sealing (1) while a person is serving a sentence or (2) while a case is pending. If a person is required to register on the Arsonist Registration Act or Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, automatic sealing will occur when registration is no longer required.
15.How does the Clean Slate Act change existing law?
When the law takes effect June 30, 2026, the waiting periods to seal will change from 3 years to 2 years for qualified probation sentences and misdemeanor / ordinance convictions. Drug tests will no longer be required to petition to seal felony drug convictions. Notice will no longer be required for “chief legal officers” of municipalities unless the petition includes an ordinance violation. The prohibition against sealing subsequent felony convictions will also be removed.
16.How does a person verify if their record was automatically sealed?
The Illinois State Police’s “access and review” process will allow people to verify if their records have been automatically sealed, and the ISP will provide written confirmation that the record was sealed. This process will not be ready until automatic sealing starts in 2029.
17.What if an eligible record was missed in the automatic sealing process?
A person can request the ISP to review its determination through a “Record Challenge Form,” and if there was a mistake, the ISP will automatically seal that record and include it on the next notification batch to the circuit clerks. A person can still petition to seal any eligible records.
18.Who has access to sealed records?
Certain agencies, employers, and licensing bodies retain access to sealed records. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) can access all sealed records through law enforcement records. Employers and licensing agencies regulated by state or federal law—such as schools, park districts, financial institutions, and public transportation agencies—can access sealed felony conviction records through Illinois State Police fingerprint-based background checks.
19.Can other employers or landlords consider a sealed record?
The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits employment and housing discrimination based on expunged, sealed, and arrest records. If this happens, information on how to file a charge with the Illinois Department of Human Rights can be found here. https://dhr.illinois.gov/filinga-charge.html
20.Does sealing restore firearm rights in Illinois?
Sealed records remain in Illinois State Police criminal history databases and are accessible during the FOID card application process. State and federal laws prohibit individuals with felony convictions—including sealed felony convictions—from possessing firearms unless they obtain restoration relief from the FOID Card Board, the courts, or the Governor.
and
+
Immediately after conclusion of the case
2 years after completion of sentence
2 years after completion of sentence
3 years after completion of last felony conviction sentence
Highlights from the Resilience Arts Festival
We are so honored and proud to have collaborated on the Resilience Arts Festival with the Mud Theatre Project. Nothing like it exists: a performing arts festival by and for those impacted by incarceration. All four days of the festival were filled with original work by our incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community.
We closed RSVPs two days before the festival because we received overwhelming support! Over the four-day festival, we welcomed a total of about 380 attendees. This inaugural festival was made possible with 19 community partners, and thanks to our sponsors, we are able to pay 38 artists inside IDOC for generously sharing their original pieces, some of them debuts, with the Resilience Fest stage.
Thank you to everyone who participated this year!
To the artists who participated in the festival and are waiting on your stipends, we have started the process of sending them, and are figuring out some technical challenges. We are working to complete all payments as soon as possible. We are sorry for the delay appreciate your patience!
All photos taken by Marcel Iam.
Jabril’s Chains by Brian Beals
The Complicated Pressure of Gems by JES-Gems
A reading of GLOW by Jesse Martinez Fighting For My Life by Anthony Spaulding
We invite you to take a moment to reflect on moments of encouragement, and maybe pass that encouragement onto someone you care about.
Write out as many happy pieces of encouragement as you can remember having received from people in your life. What compliment meant a lot to you? When did someone make you feel worthy? If you are struggling to think of a memory, write down the words you wish someone had said to you when you were younger to encourage you and recognize your goodness. Reread this list when you are feeling down.
Crafting Your Story with Featherbricks and Reparation Media
Abolition to Abolition by Mud Theatre
Rhythmic Wounds by Marvin Alexis
T-Shirt Design by Benny Lopez