The Illinois Clean Slate Act is poised to transform criminal record relief by automatically sealing millions of eligible records beginning in 2029. Many residents are asking: Who qualifies? How does automatic sealing work? Will employers still see past charges? By shifting from a petition-based system to a government-initiated process, the Illinois Clean Slate Act aims to remove long-standing barriers to employment, housing, and education—giving justice-impacted individuals a real path forward.
How Will the Illinois Clean Slate Act Automate Record Sealing?
Under the Illinois Clean Slate Act, the Illinois State Police will review criminal records quarterly and seal eligible arrests, dismissed charges, completed supervisions, probation cases, misdemeanors, and select non-violent Class 3 and 4 felonies. Older records will be sealed in phased waves through 2034. This automated system removes the need for petitions, lawyer fees, or court filings, which historically prevented thousands of eligible individuals from accessing relief.
What Records Are Excluded From the Illinois Clean Slate Act?
Despite its broad scope, the Illinois Clean Slate Act excludes several categories, including offenses requiring ongoing registration, Class X felonies, human trafficking, crimes of violence, burglary of certain classes, and open cases. If any ineligible conviction appears under the same case number, that entire case remains unsealed. These exclusions ensure that record sealing expands access to opportunity while maintaining public-safety safeguards.
How Will the Illinois Clean Slate Act Affect Employers and Hiring?
For employers, the Illinois Clean Slate Act will significantly change what criminal history is legally accessible. Many misdemeanors and low-level felonies that once appeared on background checks will no longer be reportable—meaning hiring teams must update screening criteria, adjudication matrices, and compliance protocols. With similar “clean slate” laws emerging nationwide, Illinois signals an accelerating national shift toward second-chance hiring and fair-chance employment practices.
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