In 2013, when Illinois became the last state to issue concealed carry permits, there was an increase in the number of people interested in applying for a F.O.I.D. card, a prerequisite to qualifying for a concealed carry permit. Some people soon discovered that they didn’t qualify for a F.O.I.D. card because of their past criminal history.
Read MoreEver since Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker took office a year ago those who represent individuals petitioning for clemency wondered how he would exercise his executive clemency authority.
Read MoreIn Illinois, the governor has the sole authority to reinstate someone’s FOID card rights lost due to a felony conviction. Several years ago few knew that clemency could be used for this purpose.
Read MoreEffective immediately, HB 2373 is the largest single expansion of the sealing rules ever taken in Illinois or - for that matter - anywhere in the United States. For the first time, individuals who have been convicted of felonies such as burglary, robbery, or aggravated battery, can seek to seal their convictions. The new law also expands what drug offenses can be sealed.
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