Illinois How to Expunge or Seal Criminal Record (SCA) is a law that allows individuals in the state of Illinois to have their criminal records erased or sealed. This law applies to convictions, arrests, and criminal charges that have been dismissed, acquitted or otherwise resolved in the individual's favor. This law allows individuals to have their criminal record expunged or sealed in order to protect their privacy and improve their chances for employment, housing, and other opportunities. There are two types of Illinois How to Expunge or Seal Criminal Record (SCA): Expungement and Sealing. Expungement is the process of completely deleting a criminal record from a person’s record while Sealing is the process of limiting access to a criminal record, preventing it from being seen by most people. To qualify for either process, the individual must meet certain criteria and must file a petition with the court. The court will then review the petition and decide whether to grant the expungement or sealing. In addition, individuals must pay a filing fee and submit other documents such as fingerprints, court documents, and a certificate of eligibility. Once the expungement or sealing is approved, the individual's criminal record is erased or sealed from the public record.