HB4675 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 19765 RLC 45506 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4675

Introduced 02/04/04, by Constance A. Howard

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2630/5

from Ch. 38, par. 206-5

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that a person charged with a Class 4 felony may have the official records of the arresting authority, the Department of State Police, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 3 years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, or the reversal of conviction, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. Provides that a person convicted of a Class 4 felony who has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor within 4 years after the completion of the sentence may have the official records of the arresting authority, the Department of State Police, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 4 years after the completion of the sentence, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. Provides that the clerk of the circuit court may charge a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the Department of State Police.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning sealing of criminal records.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Criminal Identification Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2630/5) (from Ch. 38, par. 206-5)

Sec. 5. Arrest reports; expungement.

(a) All policing bodies of this State shall furnish to the Department, daily, in the form and detail the Department requires, fingerprints and descriptions of all persons who are arrested on charges of violating any penal statute of this State for offenses that are classified as felonies and Class A or B misdemeanors and of all minors of the age of 10 and over who have been arrested for an offense which would be a felony if committed by an adult, and may forward such fingerprints and descriptions for minors arrested for Class A or B misdemeanors. Moving or nonmoving traffic violations under the Illinois Vehicle Code shall not be reported except for violations of Chapter 4, Section 11-204.1, or Section 11-501 of that Code. In addition, conservation offenses, as defined in the Supreme Court Rule 501(c), that are classified as Class B misdemeanors shall not be reported.

Whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult, not having previously been convicted of any criminal offense or municipal ordinance violation, charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a felony or misdemeanor, is acquitted or released without being convicted, whether the acquittal or release occurred before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991, the Chief Judge of the circuit wherein the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at the defendant's trial may upon verified petition of the defendant order the record of arrest expunged from the official records of the arresting authority and the Department and order that the records of the clerk of the circuit court be sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown and the name of the defendant obliterated on the official index required to be kept by the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act, but the order shall not affect any index issued by the circuit court clerk before the entry of the order. The Department may charge the petitioner a fee equivalent to the cost of processing any order to expunge or seal the records, and the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund. The records of those arrests, however, that result in a disposition of supervision for any offense shall not be expunged from the records of the arresting authority or the Department nor impounded by the court until 2 years after discharge and dismissal of supervision. Those records that result from a supervision for a violation of Section 3-707, 3-708, 3-710, 5-401.3, or 11-503 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, or for a violation of Section 12-3.2, 12-15 or 16A-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961, or probation under Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Section 12-4.3(b)(1) and (2) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (as those provisions existed before their deletion by Public Act 89-313), Section 10-102 of the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency Act when the judgment of conviction has been vacated, Section 40-10 of the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act when the judgment of conviction has been vacated, or Section 10 of the Steroid Control Act shall not be expunged from the records of the arresting authority nor impounded by the court until 5 years after termination of probation or supervision. Those records that result from a supervision for a violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance, shall not be expunged. All records set out above may be ordered by the court to be expunged from the records of the arresting authority and impounded by the court after 5 years, but shall not be expunged by the Department, but shall, on court order be sealed by the Department and may be disseminated by the Department only as required by law or to the arresting authority, the State's Attorney, and the court upon a later arrest for the same or a similar offense or for the purpose of sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon conviction for any offense, the Department of Corrections shall have access to all sealed records of the Department pertaining to that individual.

(a-5) Those records maintained by the Department for persons arrested prior to their 17th birthday shall be expunged as provided in Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

(b) Whenever a person has been convicted of a crime or of the violation of a municipal ordinance, in the name of a person whose identity he has stolen or otherwise come into possession of, the aggrieved person from whom the identity was stolen or otherwise obtained without authorization, upon learning of the person having been arrested using his identity, may, upon verified petition to the chief judge of the circuit wherein the arrest was made, have a court order entered nunc pro tunc by the chief judge to correct the arrest record, conviction record, if any, and all official records of the arresting authority, the Department, other criminal justice agencies, the prosecutor, and the trial court concerning such arrest, if any, by removing his name from all such records in connection with the arrest and conviction, if any, and by inserting in the records the name of the offender, if known or ascertainable, in lieu of the aggrieved's name. The records of the clerk of the circuit court clerk shall be sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown and the name of the aggrieved person obliterated on the official index required to be kept by the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act, but the order shall not affect any index issued by the circuit court clerk before the entry of the order. Nothing in this Section shall limit the Department of State Police or other criminal justice agencies or prosecutors from listing under an offender's name the false names he or she has used. For purposes of this Section, convictions for moving and nonmoving traffic violations other than convictions for violations of Chapter 4, Section 11-204.1 or Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall not be a bar to expunging the record of arrest and court records for violation of a misdemeanor or municipal ordinance.

(c) Whenever a person who has been convicted of an offense is granted a pardon by the Governor which specifically authorizes expungement, he may, upon verified petition to the chief judge of the circuit where the person had been convicted, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at the defendant's trial, may have a court order entered expunging the record of arrest from the official records of the arresting authority and order that the records of the clerk of the circuit court and the Department be sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown or as otherwise provided herein, and the name of the defendant obliterated from the official index requested to be kept by the circuit court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act in connection with the arrest and conviction for the offense for which he had been pardoned but the order shall not affect any index issued by the circuit court clerk before the entry of the order. All records sealed by the Department may be disseminated by the Department only as required by law or to the arresting authority, the State's Attorney, and the court upon a later arrest for the same or similar offense or for the purpose of sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon conviction for any subsequent offense, the Department of Corrections shall have access to all sealed records of the Department pertaining to that individual. Upon entry of the order of expungement, the clerk of the circuit court shall promptly mail a copy of the order to the person who was pardoned.

(c-5) Whenever a person has been convicted of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse, the victim of that offense may request that the State's Attorney of the county in which the conviction occurred file a verified petition with the presiding trial judge at the defendant's trial to have a court order entered to seal the records of the clerk of the circuit court in connection with the proceedings of the trial court concerning that offense. However, the records of the arresting authority and the Department of State Police concerning the offense shall not be sealed. The court, upon good cause shown, shall make the records of the clerk of the circuit court in connection with the proceedings of the trial court concerning the offense available for public inspection.

(c-6) If a conviction has been set aside on direct review or on collateral attack and the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was factually innocent of the charge, the court shall enter an expungement order as provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-5-4 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(d) Notice of the petition for subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall be served upon the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government affecting the arrest. Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency or such chief legal officer objects to the petition within 30 days from the date of the notice, the court shall enter an order granting or denying the petition. The clerk of the court shall promptly mail a copy of the order to the person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of State Police and such other criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the judge.

(e) Nothing herein shall prevent the Department of State Police from maintaining all records of any person who is admitted to probation upon terms and conditions and who fulfills those terms and conditions pursuant to Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Section 12-4.3 of the Criminal Code of 1961, Section 10-102 of the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency Act, Section 40-10 of the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, or Section 10 of the Steroid Control Act.

(f) No court order issued pursuant to the expungement provisions of this Section shall become final for purposes of appeal until 30 days after notice is received by the Department. Any court order contrary to the provisions of this Section is void.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c-5) of this Section, the court shall not order the sealing or expungement of the arrest records and records of the circuit court clerk of any person granted supervision for or convicted of any sexual offense committed against a minor under 18 years of age. For the purposes of this Section, "sexual offense committed against a minor" includes but is not limited to the offenses of indecent solicitation of a child or criminal sexual abuse when the victim of such offense is under 18 years of age.

(h) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary and cumulative with any rights to expungement of criminal records, whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a misdemeanor is acquitted or released without being convicted, or if the person is convicted but the conviction is reversed, or if the person has been placed on supervision for a misdemeanor and has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor within 3 years after the acquittal or release or reversal of conviction, or the completion of the terms and conditions of the supervision, if the acquittal, release, finding of not guilty, or reversal of conviction occurred on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought may have the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 3 years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, the reversal of conviction, or the completion of the terms and conditions of the supervision, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. This subsection (h) does not apply to persons placed on supervision for: (1) a violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor violation of Section 12-15, 12-30, or 26-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

(2) Upon acquittal, release without conviction, or being placed on supervision, the person charged with the offense shall be informed by the court of the right to have the records sealed and the procedures for the sealing of the records. Three years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, the reversal of conviction, or the completion of the terms and conditions of the supervision, the defendant shall provide the clerk of the court with a notice of request for sealing of records and payment of the applicable fee and a current address and shall promptly notify the clerk of the court of any change of address. The clerk shall promptly serve notice that the person's records are to be sealed on the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest. Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency or such chief legal officer objects to sealing of the records within 90 days of notice the court shall enter an order sealing the defendant's records 3 years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, the reversal of conviction, or the completion of the terms and conditions of the supervision. The clerk of the court shall promptly serve by mail or in person a copy of the order to the person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of State Police and such other criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the judge. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted.

(3) The clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(4) Whenever sealing of records is required under this subsection (h), the notification of the sealing must be given by the circuit court where the arrest occurred to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.

(5) An adult or a minor prosecuted as an adult who was charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a misdemeanor who was acquitted, released without being convicted, convicted and the conviction was reversed, or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor before the date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and was not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor for 3 years after the acquittal or release or reversal of conviction, or completion of the terms and conditions of the supervision may petition the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or, in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at that defendant's trial, to seal the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the court, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, and State's Attorneys and other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. This subsection (h) does not apply to persons placed on supervision for: (1) a violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor violation of Section 12-15, 12-30, or 26-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act. The State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest shall be served with a copy of the verified petition and shall have 90 days to object. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted. The person whose records are sealed under the provisions of this Act shall pay to the clerk of the court and the Department of State Police a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records. The fees shall be paid to the clerk of the court who shall forward the appropriate portion to the Department at the time the court order to seal the defendant's record is forwarded to the Department for processing. The Department of State Police portion of the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(i) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary and cumulative with any rights to expungement of criminal records, whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a misdemeanor is convicted of a misdemeanor and has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor within 4 years after the completion of the sentence, if the conviction occurred on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought may have the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 4 years after the completion of the sentence, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. This subsection (i) does not apply to persons convicted of: (1) a violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor violation of Section 12-15, 12-30, or 26-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

(2) Upon the conviction of such offense, the person charged with the offense shall be informed by the court of the right to have the records sealed and the procedures for the sealing of the records. Four years after the completion of the sentence, the defendant shall provide the clerk of the court with a notice of request for sealing of records and payment of the applicable fee and a current address and shall promptly notify the clerk of the court of any change of address. The clerk shall promptly serve notice that the person's records are to be sealed on the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest. Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency or such chief legal officer objects to sealing of the records within 90 days of notice the court shall enter an order sealing the defendant's records 4 years after the completion of the sentence. The clerk of the court shall promptly serve by mail or in person a copy of the order to the person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of State Police and such other criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the judge. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted.

(3) The clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(4) Whenever sealing of records is required under this subsection (i), the notification of the sealing must be given by the circuit court where the arrest occurred to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.

(5) An adult or a minor prosecuted as an adult who was charged with a violation of a municipal ordinance or a misdemeanor who was convicted of a misdemeanor before the date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and was not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor for 4 years after the completion of the sentence may petition the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or, in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at that defendant's trial, to seal the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the court, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, and State's Attorneys and other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. This subsection (i) does not apply to persons convicted of: (1) a violation of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (2) a misdemeanor violation of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (3) a misdemeanor violation of Section 12-15, 12-30, or 26-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (4) a misdemeanor violation that is a crime of violence as defined in Section 2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act or a similar provision of a local ordinance; (5) a Class A misdemeanor violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act; or (6) any offense or attempted offense that would subject a person to registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act. The State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest shall be served with a copy of the verified petition and shall have 90 days to object. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted. The person whose records are sealed under the provisions of this Act shall pay to the clerk of the court and the Department of State Police a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records. The fees shall be paid to the clerk of the court who shall forward the appropriate portion to the Department at the time the court order to seal the defendant's record is forwarded to the Department for processing. The Department of State Police portion of the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(j) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary and cumulative with any rights to expungement of criminal records, whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult charged with a Class 4 felony is acquitted or released without being convicted or if the person is convicted but the conviction is reversed and has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor within 3 years after the acquittal or release or reversal of conviction if the acquittal, release, finding of not guilty, or reversal of conviction occurred on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought may have the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 3 years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, or the reversal of conviction, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices.

(2) Upon acquittal or release without conviction, the person charged with the offense shall be informed by the court of the right to have the records sealed and the procedures for the sealing of the records. Three years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, or the reversal of conviction, the defendant shall provide the clerk of the court with a notice of request for sealing of records and payment of the applicable fee and a current address and shall promptly notify the clerk of the court of any change of address. The clerk shall promptly serve notice that the person's records are to be sealed on the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency, and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest. Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency, or the chief legal officer objects to the sealing of the records within 90 days of notice, the court shall enter an order sealing the defendant's records 3 years after the dismissal of the charge, the finding of not guilty, or the reversal of conviction. The clerk of the court shall promptly serve by mail or in person a copy of the order to the person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of State Police, and such other criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the judge. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted.

(3) The clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(4) Whenever sealing of records is required under this subsection (j), the notification of the sealing must be given by the circuit court where the arrest occurred to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.

(5) An adult or a minor prosecuted as an adult who was charged with a Class 4 felony who was acquitted, released without being convicted, or convicted and the conviction was reversed, before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and was not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor for 3 years after the acquittal, release, or reversal of conviction may petition the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or, in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at that defendant's trial, to seal the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the court, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, and State's Attorneys and other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. The State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency, and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest shall be served with a copy of the verified petition and shall have 90 days to object. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted. The person whose records are sealed under the provisions of this Act shall pay to the clerk of the court and the Department of State Police a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records. The fees shall be paid to the clerk of the court who shall forward the appropriate portion to the Department at the time the court order to seal the defendant's record is forwarded to the Department for processing. The Department of State Police portion of the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(k) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary and cumulative with any rights to expungement of criminal records, whenever an adult or minor prosecuted as an adult charged with a Class 4 felony is convicted of a Class 4 felony and has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor within 4 years after the completion of the sentence, if the conviction occurred on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought may have the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the circuit court sealed 4 years after the completion of the sentence, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys or other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices.

(2) Upon the conviction of such offense, the person charged with the offense shall be informed by the court of the right to have the records sealed and the procedures for the sealing of the records. Four years after the completion of the sentence, the defendant shall provide the clerk of the court with a notice of request for sealing of records and payment of the applicable fee and a current address and shall promptly notify the clerk of the court of any change of address. The clerk shall promptly serve notice that the person's records are to be sealed on the State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest. Unless the State's Attorney or prosecutor, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency, or the chief legal officer objects to sealing of the records within 90 days of notice, the court shall enter an order sealing the defendant's records 4 years after the completion of the sentence. The clerk of the court shall promptly serve by mail or in person a copy of the order to the person, the arresting agency, the prosecutor, the Department of State Police, and such other criminal justice agencies as may be ordered by the judge. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted.

(3) The clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records by the clerk and the Department of State Police. The clerk shall forward the Department of State Police portion of the fee to the Department and it shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(4) Whenever sealing of records is required under this subsection (k), the notification of the sealing must be given by the circuit court where the arrest occurred to the Department in a form and manner prescribed by the Department.

(5) An adult or a minor prosecuted as an adult who was charged with a Class 4 felony who was convicted of a Class 4 felony before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and was not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or placed on supervision for a misdemeanor for 4 years after the completion of the sentence may petition the Chief Judge of the circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of that circuit in which the charge was brought, any judge of the circuit designated by the Chief Judge, or, in counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the presiding trial judge at that defendant's trial, to seal the official records of the arresting authority, the Department, and the clerk of the court, except those records are subject to inspection and use by the court for the purposes of subsequent sentencing for misdemeanor and felony violations and inspection and use by law enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, and State's Attorneys and other prosecutors in carrying out the duties of their offices. The State's Attorney or prosecutor charged with the duty of prosecuting the offense, the Department of State Police, the arresting agency, and the chief legal officer of the unit of local government effecting the arrest shall be served with a copy of the verified petition and shall have 90 days to object. If an objection is filed, the court shall set a date for hearing. At the hearing the court shall hear evidence on whether the sealing of the records should or should not be granted. The person whose records are sealed under the provisions of this Act shall pay to the clerk of the court and the Department of State Police a fee equivalent to the cost associated with the sealing of records. The fees shall be paid to the clerk of the court who shall forward the appropriate portion to the Department at the time the court order to seal the defendant's record is forwarded to the Department for processing. The Department of State Police portion of the fee shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund.

(Source: P.A. 92-651, eff. 7-11-02; 93-210, eff. 7-18-03; 93-211, eff. 1-1-04; revised 8-25-03.)