Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in Illinois

How Illinois law treats restoring rights after a felony, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Voting rights return automatically when a person is released from prison or jail (re-registration is required). IDOC voting guide; Illinois State Police FOID Card Review Board pages; Illinois Prisoner Review Board executive clemency page

Restoring rights after a felony	Voting rights return automatically when a person is released from prison or jail (re-registration is required). Firearm rights are handled through the FOID (Firearm Owner's Identification) card system: a person denied a FOID card because of a felony may ask the FOID Card Review Board for relief, except that for forcible felonies, stalking, aggravated stalking, domestic battery, Class 2 or higher drug felonies, deadly-weapons felonies and juvenile felony adjudications the request must be filed with the circuit court in the county of residence. A pardon (executive clemency) comes from the Governor: petitions are filed with the Prisoner Review Board, which holds a hearing and sends a confidential recommendation to the Governor, who decides with no deadline. Voting: https://idoc.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idoc/communityresources/documents/know-your-rights-crim-record.pdf ; FCRB jurisdiction: https://isp.illinois.gov/FoidCardReviewBoard/RequestsForRelief ; clemency: https://prb.illinois.gov/prbexclemex.html . Restoration of jury service or eligibility for office was not found on an official page. Source: IDOC voting guide; Illinois State Police FOID Card Review Board pages; Illinois Prisoner Review Board executive clemency page

Restoring rights after a felony

Voting rights return automatically when a person is released from prison or jail (re-registration is required). Firearm rights are handled through the FOID (Firearm Owner's Identification) card system: a person denied a FOID card because of a felony may ask the FOID Card Review Board for relief, except that for forcible felonies, stalking, aggravated stalking, domestic battery, Class 2 or higher drug felonies, deadly-weapons felonies and juvenile felony adjudications the request must be filed with the circuit court in the county of residence. A pardon (executive clemency) comes from the Governor: petitions are filed with the Prisoner Review Board, which holds a hearing and sends a confidential recommendation to the Governor, who decides with no deadline.

Voting: https://idoc.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idoc/communityresources/documents/know-your-rights-crim-record.pdf ; FCRB jurisdiction: https://isp.illinois.gov/FoidCardReviewBoard/RequestsForRelief ; clemency: https://prb.illinois.gov/prbexclemex.html . Restoration of jury service or eligibility for office was not found on an official page.

Source: IDOC voting guide; Illinois State Police FOID Card Review Board pages; Illinois Prisoner Review Board executive clemency page

More Illinois criminal law

FAQ

How do you restore your rights after a felony in Illinois?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.