Illinois Juvenile Record Expungement Lawyers

Compassionate DuPage County Juvenile Record Clearing Attorneys

Having a juvenile criminal record can have a negative impact on you when you become an adult. Although juvenile records are kept confidential, in most cases, they must be disclosed to certain potential employers, including the military and regulated industries such as law enforcement and nursing. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you have your juvenile record expunged if possible.

Our Illinois Expungement Lawyers have helped individuals with marks on their juvenile records clear their name so that they can move forward with their lives. We have extensive knowledge of juvenile expungements, which circumstances qualify, and what is necessary to secure a positive outcome.

Do I Qualify to Have my Juvenile Records Expunged?

In Illinois, there are certain requirements that must be met to be eligible for a juvenile expungement. First of all, you must be at least 18 years of age or older. Second, six months must have elapsed since the conclusion of your case. Third, you must fall into one of the following categories:

• You were arrested but not charged with a crime;
• You were charged, but your case was dismissed;
• You were charged, but you were found not delinquent (not guilty) and no petition for delinquency was filed;
• You were sentenced to supervision;
• You were convicted of a crime that would be considered a Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, or petty offense as an adult.

If you were convicted of a crime that would be considered a Class A misdemeanor or felony as an adult, you might still qualify for expungement if you meet the following requirements; you are at least 21 years of age, have not had any convictions since your 18th birthday, and it has been at least five years since the termination of your last juvenile court proceeding. There are certain instances in which juvenile crimes can never be expunged. These include:

• Convictions for first-degree murder; or
• Sexual offenses that would be considered felonies if committed as an adult.

It is important to note that criminal record sealing is generally not available for juvenile records. If you do not meet the criteria to qualify for an expungement, an alternate remedy such as a petition for clemency may be the only other option.

Contact an Illinois Expungement Attorney

Our Illinois Expungement Lawyers believe that a mistake made as a juvenile should not prevent you from pursuing your goals and dreams as an adult. If you have a juvenile criminal record that you want to get expunged, we are here to help. Contact our attorneys for help throughout Chicago, including DuPage County, Kane County and Will County.