Expungement Vs. Sealing

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.

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