If you were convicted of a minor cannabis related offense, to get your criminal record expunged, you have to go through the process of obtaining a pardon. A pardon means you are forgiven for the crime. If you are granted a pardon, then your record can be expunged. Getting a pardon is not a guarantee.

This process is partially automatic. The first step is done by the Illinois police department who will go through their records to determine the eligible individuals. For those eligible, the next step is that their criminal record will be sent to the Prisoner Review Board who will recommend whether or not to give you a pardon. If the Prisoner Review Board recommends a pardon, then it will have to be approved by the governor of Illinois. It is not guaranteed that you will be given a pardon.

If the governor of Illinois does approve the pardon, then the Attorney General will file a petition in the court where you were convicted to get your record expunged. If the court grants it, then the record of the cannabis offence will be gone.

The court clerk will give you a copy of the order expunging your record by mail. It is important you keep your mailing address up to date with the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the criminal case occurred to receive the notice that your record has been expunged.

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Illinois

Chapter: Cannabis

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