1. Developing Partnerships to Benefit People Facing Barriers Cabrini Green Legal Aid 740 North Milwaukee Avenue | Chicago, IL 60642 www.cgla.net | p 312.738.2452 | f 312.850.4783

2. Our purpose is to answer God’s call to seek justice and mercy for those living in poverty by providing legal services that strengthen lives, families, and communities. We provide high impact legal services in the areas of: Criminal Records Housing Law Family Law Criminal Defense We integrate legal and social services through strategic partnerships and in-house support staff to create long-term impact on those we serve. Introducing CGLA

3. Expungement and Sealing Before My Equal Justice Works Fellowship

4. File the Petition (next page) Visit the Daley Center Expungement/Sealing Help Desk CGLA Volunteers and law student interns prepare petitions that will be filed pro se. Get Chicago RAP Sheet A person arrested in the City of Chicago must include a RAP sheet with the petition when it is filed. A RAP sheet costs $16, and it takes 2 trips to the Chicago Police Department to get it. Expungement & Sealing Procedures

5. Petitions are filed in Clerk’s Office in the district(s) in which the cases occurred. Cook County has six municipal districts and petitions are divided by arresting agency. District 6 - Markham District 5 – Bridgeview District 4 - Maywood District 3 – Rolling Meadows District 2 - Skokie District 1 – Chicago Where Petitions are Filed

6. Attend Court (Some court dates are automatic; some are set upon objection) At court dates, judges weigh the objections filed with several factors: petitioner’s rehabilitation, length of time since the record, what is on the record, strength of the state’s case at the time, educational and employment history. CGLA & CLC represent pro se petitioners in Chicago. Wait for Objection Period to Expire All agencies entitled to notice by law have 60 days to object to the expungement or sealing (state’s attorney, arresting agency, Illinois State Police and village prosecutor). Objections are filed with the court, and are either (1) statutory in nature or (2) discretionary. File the Petition Petitions must be filed in the County and District in which the case occurred. There are 102 counties in Illinois, and 6 districts within Cook County. We have guides for filing within the Cook County districts. Expungement & Sealing Procedures

7. If denied, a person can file a Motion to Reconsider within 60 days of service of the order. If granted, removes records from the Clerk of the Circuit Court record, so information does not appear on a background check. Appears as “no record.” Files are impounded. Orders the arresting agency and Illinois State Police to expunge or seal. ISP also forwards orders to the FBI. Expungement & Sealing After a Court Order

8. Expungement and Sealing After My Equal Justice Works Fellowship

9. 9 Request for Research Eligibility (Based on Prescreen) Client and Case Manager CRC Law Student Volunteer The Criminal Records Corps Eligible to Expunge or Seal? Consult with client and case manger re: other options CRC Law Student Volunteer Prepare and File Petition Client Purchase RAP Sheet (with funds provided by CRC) CRC Law Student Volunteer No Yes

10. 10 The Criminal Records Corps Total Referred: 766

11. 11 The Criminal Records Corps Total Trained: 156 (includes 31 University of Chicago students who served for one day who are not included in the chart)

12. 12 Current CGLA Partnerships Collaborative The Cara Program Growing Home Strategic Breakthrough Urban Ministries Heartland Human Care Services La Casa Norte Special Initiatives Safer Foundation Community Homelessness Prevention Agencies Workforce Development Agencies Social Services Agencies

13. 13 CGLA’s Mission