In Observance of the Christmas and New year's Day, The Offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court Will Be Closed Thursday, December 25th and Thursday, January 1st , 2026.
Explore the progress report detailing the major initiatives launched by Clerk Mariyana T. Spyropoulos since taking office on December 1, 2024, including reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public access to court services. Click here to read more
Individuals who would like a copy of the 2026 calendar may pick one up at the Daley Center, Room 1201. Please note that quantities are limited; they will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis, with limit of one per person.
You can find the digital calendar here.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court Mariyana Spyropoulos presents the 2025 Second Chance Summit on Saturday, October 11 from 8:30AM to 4:00PM at Proviso Math and Science Academy. This is an opportunity for community members to begin the process of expunging or sealing their criminal records, as well as participate in a resource and job fair.
To prepare for the summit, please read all the information below.
What is the Second Chance Summit?
This is a one-day event to help individuals begin the process of expunging or sealing their criminal records. Volunteer attorneys will be on site, and a resource fair will offer job opportunities and valuable information.
What is Expungement and Sealing?
To “expunge” a record means that law enforcement agencies will physically destroy the records and remove the petitioner’s name from any official index or public record. The court clerk does not physically destroy the records, but impounds records relating to arrests and charges that a court orders expunged. Expunged records do not appear in background checks. To “seal” a record means to make the records unavailable to the public without a court order. Police agencies and prosecutors will continue to have access to records, but your name will be unavailable for the sealed record in the Clerk’s Office’s electronic docket system. Employers required by law to do fingerprint background checks such as school and hospitals, can still access sealed felony convictions. Please note: the FBI also receives a copy of your criminal record that it will keep in a file of your criminal history. The criminal records kept by the FBI are not subject to Illinois’ expungement and sealing statues and can not be expunged or sealed. (For example, applying for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)
What qualifies for an Expungement?
You may qualify for an expungement if you have a conviction for the following:
You can’t expunge the following:
Effective August 27, 2017, the Illinois legislature expanded the sealing of criminal records and of minors prosecuted as adults. All misdemeanor and felony convictions are eligible to be sealed EXCEPT the following:
How to get your RAP Sheet
If your arrests were in the City of Chicago, you will need to obtain your RAP sheet from the Chicago Police Department Headquarters.
If your arrests were outside Chicago or across multiple areas, you will need to obtain a Statewide Criminal History Report from the Illinois State Police (ISP).
You can also request a statewide report in person at the CPD headquarters.
RAP sheet(s) and/ or Criminal History Record must be uploaded by September 26 to participate.
There will be volunteer attorneys available at the event to provide legal advice and assist with preparing petitions for expungement and sealing.
No; if you don’t have your rap sheet, you will not be able to begin the expungement/sealing process. However, you can receive a consultation on your case from a volunteer attorney. Additionally, you can still participate in our resource and job fair.
Yes! You will begin the process of filing your expungement or sealing paperwork at the event with the help of volunteer attorneys.
There will be volunteer attorneys onsite to assist with preparing petitions for out of county cases. They will provide instructions for filing the petitions within the county the case occurred in.
No; expungements are highly restricted at the federal level. Federal law doesn't offer a general process for expunging or sealing criminal records.
There are specific waiting periods after completion of sentences to get a record expunged or sealed, and the volunteer attorneys can guide you on those time frames. Once your petition has been filed, there can be a significant period of time before the petition is heard by the court. The State’s Attorney’s Office has 60 days from the filing of the petition to make an objection. Any further questions can be answered by the volunteer attorneys onsite.
It costs $152.04 to file a petition to expunge or seal records and/or charges in Cook County. However, this fee can be waived by the court if you file a fee waiver application and appear in court for a hearing on your fee waiver.
Once you’ve obtained your RAP Sheet and/or your Criminal History Report, register here.
