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EXPUNGEMENT WORKSHOP

More than half of the 65 million people in the United States with a criminal record are able to seal or expunge their record, thanks to recent legislation. Sealing hides the record from the public, while expungement erases the record completely.

Note: The following offenses ARE NOT eligible for expungement or sealing unless they resulted in non-convictions: Domestic Battery, Violation of an Order of Protection, Sexual Offenses, Animal Offenses, DUI and reckless driving.

Download Printable Instructions

Step 1

Get an official copy of your criminal record.

Ink Fingerprints are cheaper but take 30-60 days to process​. Live Scan Fingerprints are more expensive but take 2 days to process.

Ink Fingerprints
Live Scan Fingerprints

Step 1a.

Get an “Illinois State Police Access and Review” fingerprint form for ink fingerprints. You can get this form for FREE at:

  • Prairie State Legal Services
  • YWCA McLean County
  • Normal Police Department

Step 1b.

Go to the police department to get fingerprinted.

  • Normal Police Department:
    • By appointment only: (309) 454-9535
    • Costs $20, NO cash and NO checks
  • Bloomington Police Department:
    • Tuesdays and Thursdays 12pm-6pm
    • Costs $20, cash ONLY

Step 1c.

Complete the “Illinois State Police Access and Review” form and mail it in.

  • Complete the rest of the fields in the form.
  • Write your name and address on the back of the form.
  • Place the form in an envelope and put a stamp on the top right corner of the envelope.
  • Put your name and address on the back side of the envelope.
  • Put the following address on the front of the envelope:

Illinois State Police
Division of Administration
Bureau of Identification
260 N. Chicago St.
Joliet, Illinois 60432

Step 2

Visit Prairie State Legal Services.

Bring your Illinois State Police Report to Prairie State Legal Services, apply for services and make an appointment.

Prairie State Legal Services
201 W. Olive St., #203
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 827-5021

*Prairie State Legal Services in Bloomington is only taking McLean County criminal record expungement/sealing.

Step 3

Attend your appointment with Prairie State Legal Services.

At your appointment, a volunteer attorney will review your charges and advise on your eligibility for expungement, sealing, health care wavier, etc. If the charges can be sealed or expunged, a volunteer attorney may be assigned to prepare and file the necessary court documents. Note: there is a mandatory waiting period for filing for sealing.

Private Attorneys

Private attorneys are another option to help you handle your expungement and sealing. There are several private attorneys who will do this work at varying rates. While we do not endorse specific attorneys, we can provide contact information for local attorneys we know provide this service.

Offer this service? Click if you are an attorney that offers record expungement or sealing and want to be added to this page.

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