Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Illinois
How juvenile records are sealed or expunged in Illinois, and whether it happens automatically.
Short answer: Law enforcement must automatically expunge, each year, juvenile law enforcement records of events before age 18 when a year has passed since the arrest, no delinquency petition or criminal charge was filed, and there was no new arrest within six months. 705 ILCS 405/5-915(0.1), (0.2)
| Juvenile records | Law enforcement must automatically expunge, each year, juvenile law enforcement records of events before age 18 when a year has passed since the arrest, no delinquency petition or criminal charge was filed, and there was no new arrest within six months. When a delinquency petition is dismissed, the minor is found not delinquent, supervision is successfully completed, or an adjudication for a Class B or C misdemeanor or petty offense ends successfully, the court must automatically order expungement of juvenile court and law enforcement records, which must be completed within 60 business days. Other juvenile records may be expunged by petition under the Juvenile Court Act. Source: 705 ILCS 405/5-915(0.1), (0.2) |
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Where to get help in Illinois
More Illinois expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Illinois Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Illinois
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Illinois
- How to File for Expungement in Illinois
- All Illinois expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do you seal a juvenile record in Illinois?
Law enforcement must automatically expunge, each year, juvenile law enforcement records of events before age 18 when a year has passed since the arrest, no delinquency petition or criminal charge was filed, and there was no new arrest within six months. When a delinquency petition is dismissed, the minor is found not delinquent, supervision is successfully completed, or an adjudication for a Class B or C misdemeanor or petty offense ends successfully, the court must automatically order expungement of juvenile court and law enforcement records, which must be completed within 60 business days. Other juvenile records may be expunged by petition under the Juvenile Court Act.
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.