Clean Record Illinois - Expungement, Seal, Pardon, Clemency
  • HOME
  • PRACTICE AREAS
  • ATTORNEY PROFILE
  • WHERE WE PRACTICE
  • FAQ
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT US

Governor Pritzker Also Pardons 20 Unrelated to Cannabis

12/31/2019

5 Comments

 
Earlier today the Governor's office announced the first wave of pardons granted for cannabis convictions as part of the automatic expungement process. But in addition to those, Governor Pritzker also granted 20 pardons from the normal group of those seeking clemency. This represents the first major batch of clemency decisions released by the Governor. Among the offenses receiving clemency were battery, drug possession, attempted burglary and theft.

One of my clients was included in the 20 receiving pardons. To the rest, congratulations on being able to start the new year with a chance for a clean slate! As a reminder, you will still need to seek the expungement separately in court.
5 Comments

Rauner Acts on 94 Clemency Petitions Prior to Labor Day Weekend

9/1/2017

12 Comments

 
In advance of the Labor Day weekend, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner today released a batch of 94 executive clemency decisions, granting seven and denying 87. According to the Prisoner Review Board, the convictions that were granted pardons were for drugs, burglary, forgery, domestic battery and retail theft.

Congrats to those receiving clemency! For those denied or still pending, take note that your case(s) may be eligible for sealing under the new law in Illinois.
12 Comments

Gov. Rauner Releases his 16th Set of Clemency Decisions 

4/14/2017

11 Comments

 
In advance of the Easter weekend, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner decided on 144 executive clemency petitions, granting four and denying 140. This marks Rauner's 16th batch of decisions since taking office in January of 2015. The pardoned offenses include a felony theft, drug charges, and aggravated battery.

Congratulations to those few that have received their pardons! They are surely well-earned. For those that were denied or still pending, keep hope alive because your time may still come in the future.
11 Comments

126 Pardon Decisions by Rauner for Labor Day Weekend

9/5/2016

16 Comments

 
Illinois governor Bruce Rauner released his eleventh batch of clemency decisions ahead of Labor Day weekend. Included were eight clemency petitions granted and 118 denied. All eight clemency actions came in the form of a pardon with authorization to expunge the criminal record. The pardoned convictions included burglary, domestic battery, deceptive practice, criminal damage to property, attempted armed robbery, and aggravated battery.

According to the Governor's Office, there are fewer than 400 petitions remaining from the backlog that had built up under prior administrations.

As always, a warm congratulations goes out to all those receiving their pardons!
16 Comments

Illinois Legislature Passes Bill to Allow Sealing of Most Misdemeanor Violent Crimes

6/2/2014

15 Comments

 
Recently, the Illinois Senate passed a bill which would expand the universe of cases eligible for sealing.  The Illinois House previously passed it in March.  Assuming that Governor Quinn signs the bill, it will allow those convicted of most misdemeanor violent crimes to seal those cases.  Previously, any violent crime conviction, misdemeanor or felony, was not eligible to seal or expunge.  The only option to remove these types of offenses from a criminal record was executive clemency.  Under this new bill, misdemeanor violent offenses (except for a few listed exceptions, such as domestic battery) will be eligible to be sealed by the court directly.
15 Comments

Arrests at NATO Summit Protests Likely Clearable

5/14/2012

0 Comments

 
With the impending 2012 NATO summit here in Chicago, many are concerned about possible clashes between the Chicago police and NATO protesters.  Indeed, the first set of arrests have already occurred a week before the summit.  But as this is no longer 1968, I don’t imagine we’ll see the level of violence that occurred in Grant Park.  I don’t believe anyone wants to see a repeat of that.

For those protestors that are arrested, most would likely be able to clear their record.  Typical arrests for protestors are for misdemeanor level charges like criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, resisting a peace officer, etc.  Often times these charges are dropped fairly quickly, as the main purpose of the arrest is usually to establish order in the given situation.  If the charges are dropped, then the defendant can expunge the arrest from their record so long as they have no prior convictions.  If the defendant receives court supervision, then she will be able to expunge the case as well, but will have to wait a couple years.  If the defendant has a prior conviction, or is convicted of this charge, then they will be able to seal the charge rather than expunge.

The concern for an arrested protester is to avoid convictions for violent crimes, such as assault or battery.  Convictions for violent crimes are not eligible to expunge or seal.  The only way to clear these from your criminal record is through executive clemency (Governor’s pardon).

0 Comments

Governor Quinn Grants More Petitions for Executive Clemency

4/7/2012

0 Comments

 
Yesterday Illinois Governor Pat Quinn made decisions on 188 petitions for executive clemency, granting 52 and denying 136.  Of the 52 granted petitions for clemency, 51 were pardons and one was a commutation of sentence.  As is often the case, Governor Quinn released his decisions on the Friday before a holiday weekend, when they tend to get lost in the media shuffle.

The pardons that Governor Quinn granted were of no surprise.  According to the Chicago Sun-Times, of the pardoned offenses, “twenty-five involved theft. Sixteen involved drugs. Eight offenses included some kind of violence…”  The violence cases are usually going to be some form of misdemeanor battery, often the domestic variety.  People who have been arrested for theft, drugs, and/or domestic battery are the most common potential clients that call me (not including quasi-criminal traffic offenses such as DUI, driving on suspended/revoked, or operating an uninsured motor vehicle).  So I would expect that Governor Quinn likely sees more petitions for theft, drugs, or battery than anything else.

One interesting note, both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune incorrectly state that Governor Quinn is expunging the petitioners’ criminal records.  Governor Quinn doesn’t actually expunge their criminal records; he merely grants them the authorization to expunge.  Someone that receives a pardon will still have to go through the normal expungement process by filing a separate petition with the court.  Ultimately it is up to the judge to grant the actual expungement.

0 Comments
    Picture
    We provide criminal defense legal services in Illinois, focusing on the expungement and sealing of criminal records. 

    Archives

    July 2024
    June 2024
    December 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Arrest
    Arrested
    Background Check
    Battery
    Cannabis
    Chicago
    Commutation
    Conviction
    Criminal Record
    Delinquent
    Drugs
    Dui
    Election
    Eligibility
    Employment
    Executive Clemency
    Expunge
    Expungement
    Felon
    Felony
    Governor
    Illinois
    Juvenile
    Misdemeanor
    Pardon
    Pritzker
    Quinn
    Rauner
    Rehabilitation
    Seal
    Sealing
    Theft

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.