SB1781 Summary

• Amends the Criminal Identification Act to establish procedures for expungement and sealing of criminal records, including eligibility criteria, timelines, and court procedures.

• Permits automatic expungement of law enforcement and court records for civil violations under the Cannabis Control Act and Drug Paraphernalia Control Act, with expungement occurring automatically on or before January 1 and July 1 of each year.

• Allows sealing of records for certain convictions including drug possession, theft, deceptive practices, and forgery (Class 3 and Class 4 felonies) with waiting periods of 2-3 years after sentence termination, or immediately upon earning a high school diploma or equivalent during incarceration.

• Establishes that in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, no fee is required for petitions to expunge or seal records involving arrests without charges or charges resulting in acquittal, dismissal, or vacated convictions; this provision expires January 1, 2019.

• Requires the Department of Corrections to conduct a study on the impact of record sealing on employment and recidivism rates, with results to be provided to the General Assembly by September 1, 2010.