New Law Broadly Expands Sealing of Criminal Records

Name: Hanna and Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law
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Posted on October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 by Hanna & Ruud, LLC

NEW LAWS have recently been enacted in Illinois! Nearly all felony convictions qualify for sealing. More than a million Illinoisans are affected by this sweeping expansion. Here’s an update on the expansion, which allow convictions, which were previously unable to be sealed or expunged, to be sealed and/or expunged. In other words, they can be stricken from your record and will not need to disclosed for employment and other matters.

Please call our office for a free consultation to determine if you qualify.

(309) 797-9000

Hanna & Ruud, LLC

Attorneys at law 1528 6th Avenue Moline, IL 61265

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Expungement Vs. Sealing

Posted on December 28, 2016December 28, 2016 by Hanna & Ruud, LLC

If you have certain qualifying arrests and criminal charges on your record, it is possible to have them expunged (or permanently removed from your record) so they can no longer harm your ability to gain access to all the freedoms you deserve. But expungement is a proactive process, and you must take the proper steps to make it happen.

If you were arrested for a crime and the charges were later dropped, dismissed or you obtained a not guilty” verdict, you may be under the mistaken impression that your arrest record will go away.” As a seasoned expungement lawyer, our firm can assure you that this is not the case. If you want to remove your criminal records from public viewing, you must seek an expungement or criminal record sealing.

The Law Offices of Hanna & Ruud, LLC in Moline, Illinois, helps individuals who have been charged, arrested and prosecuted for crimes to seek expungement and/or sealing of their criminal records from public view. Although a number of crimes can be expunged and/or sealed, some cannot. It is important to seek advice from an experienced expungement attorney if you would like to obtain expunge or seal your records. Contact us to learn more.

The good news is that Governor Rauner has acted on yet another batch of clemency petitions , the fifth such group since he has taken office earlier this year. The not-so-great news is that out of the two hundred ten (210) petitions he decided, he granted only ten (10) and denied two hundred (200). While I would absolutely like to see more deserving petitions being granted by our present Illinois Governor, I will say I admire the relative speed in which he is deciding such petitions. My only hope is that deserving petitioners are not being overlooked in haste.

Firearm privileges are lost upon a felony conviction or juvenile adjudication/misdemeanor, 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/24-1.1 (a), and may be restored by the Department of State Police or by the circuit court where the person resides. 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 65/10 (a), (c). Relief may be granted if: (1) the applicant has not been convicted of a forcible felony” within the preceding 20 years or 20 years have passed since release from imprisonment for that offense; (2) he is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety;” and (3) restoration of firearm privileges would not be contrary to the public interest.” 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 65/10 (c). Individuals may appeal a denial to the Director of State Police unless their conviction involves violence (including domestic violence), drugs or firearms, in which case rights may be restored only by the court. Id. A pardon must include a special provision restoring firearms rights.

Before you “Conceal and Carry” in Illinois – Expunge

Posted on June 9, 2015June 9, 2015 by Hanna & Ruud, LLC

Will your criminal record prevent you from “Conceal and Carry” in Illinois?

With passage 430 ILCS 66, which allows an individual to legally carry a concealed firearm. There are some criminal offenses that do not qualify for expungement and an individual cannot expunge a charge on their criminal record if they have even a single conviction, or have pleaded guilty to the charge. The expungement laws do allow for expungement of non-convictions such as arrests resulting in an acquittal Restore Gun Rights or dismissals. There are other alternatives, such as Restoring your Civil Rights, to obtain your Conceal and Carry License after a conviction. I would encourage anyone wanting to ultimately obtain a permit to allow him or her to carry a concealed firearm to make sure any arrests that qualifies for expungement, are in fact expunged prior to submitting an application to the Illinois State Police.

The Firearm Concealed Carry Act, 430 ILCS 66, allows an eligible individual to legally carry a concealed firearm with a valid Concealed Carry License. There are requirements a person must meet in order to obtain a license. The Illinois State Police looks at the criminal record of an individual and bases their decision as to whether to issue such a license to an individual. Section 15 of the new law provides that “any law enforcement agency may submit an objection to a license applicant based upon a reasonable suspicion that the applicant is a danger to himself or herself or others, or a threat to public safety”. This is obviously purposefully vague language that serves to open the door for objections by law enforcement agencies. For more information on this topic, please visit the expungement section of our website, or Call or email us 309-797-9000.

By: Hanna & Ruud, LLC Attorneys at Law – June 9, 2015