1. The locations and starting times for Central Bond Court and for the other Branch Courts located at the Criminal Court Building are listed below: Branch 1, Central Bond Court, Room 100, 1:30 p.m. Mon-Fri; Sat., Sun, court holidays, 12 noon (misdemeanors), 1:30 p.m. (felonies) Branch 2, Traffic (Felony), Room 100, 9 a.m., Mon-Fri Branch 3, Traffic (Misdemeanor), Room 100, 10:30a.m., Mon-Fri Branch 7, Adult Redeploy Illinois, Room 100, 2 p.m., Mon-Fri Branch 9, SAO Deferred Prosecution, Room 100, 3 p.m., Mon-Fri Branch 46, Misdemeanor Jury Call, Room 102, 9 a.m., Mon-Fri Branch 46, Misd. Probation Violation, Room 102, 9 a.m., Thurs Branch 66, Sex/Murder Prelim. Hrgs., Room 101, 12 noon, Mon-Fri Branch 98, Extradition, Room 101, 11:30 a.m., Mon-Fri
Pursuant to Illinois law, certain cases are eligible to be “expunged” or “sealed,” thereby removing them from a defendant’s criminal history record or accessibility to the public, respectively. Individuals who have criminal records eligible for this procedure might seek to use it in order to obtain a job, protect a current job, help them with certain licensing prospects, or just eliminate the potentially damaging effects of a criminal history record. An individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pay a mandatory fee in order to expunge and/or seal a criminal arrest or record.
Upon the filing of a Petition to Expunge and/or Seal, the following steps occur:
a. A petition is filed with the Clerk’s Office on the fifth floor of the Criminal Court Administration Building at 2650 W. California Ave., Chicago, Illinois and it receives a case number.
b. A copy of the petition along with a receipt for the fee is given to the petitioner.
c. The Clerk’s office sends out three copies of the petition to; the Illinois State Police, the Arresting Agency and the Chicago Corporation Counsel.
d. A court sheet and index card are created for the petition and it is logged into the Clerk’s book and data entered into the Clerk’s computer system.
e. The case is then assigned to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court who hears these cases at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in courtroom #101.
Parking for the public is available through metered street parking and at pay lots located on California Avenue just north of 26th Street.
An individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pay a mandatory fee in order to receive a Certificate of Innocence, expunge and/or seal a criminal arrest or record. If you are interested in finding out about eligibility or in filling a petition, you should visit the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court on the fifth floor of the Criminal Court Administration Building at 2650 West California Avenue or call (773)674-3140.