730 ILCS 5/5-5.5-15
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 730 - CORRECTIONS|730 ILCS 5/ - Unified Code of Corrections.|Chapter V - Sentencing

Sec. 5-5.5-15. Certificates of relief from disabilities issued by courts.(a) Any circuit court of this State may issue a  certificate of  relief from disabilities to an eligible offender for a conviction that  occurred in that court if the court imposed the sentence. The certificate may be issued (i) at the time  sentence is pronounced, in which case it may grant relief from  disabilities, or (ii) at any time  thereafter, in which case it shall apply only to disabilities.(b) The certificate may not be issued by the court unless the court  is satisfied, based on clear and convincing evidence, that:(1) the person to whom it is to be granted is an     eligible offender, as defined in Section 5-5.5-5;(2) the relief to be granted by the certificate is     consistent with the rehabilitation of the eligible offender; and(3) the relief to be granted by the certificate is     consistent with the public interest.(c) If a certificate of relief from disabilities is not issued at  the time sentence is pronounced it shall only be issued thereafter upon  verified application to the court. The court may, for the purpose of  determining whether the certificate shall be issued, request the  probation or court services department to conduct an investigation of the  applicant. Any probation officer  requested to make an investigation under this Section shall  prepare and submit to the court a written report in accordance with the  request.(d) Any court that has issued a certificate of relief from disabilities  may at any time issue a new certificate to enlarge the relief previously  granted provided that the provisions of clauses (1)  through (3) of subsection (b) of this Section apply to the issuance of  any such new certificate.(e) Any written report submitted to the court under this Section  is confidential and may not be made available to any person or public or  private agency except if specifically required or permitted by  statute or upon specific authorization of the court. However, it shall  be made available by the court for examination by the applicant's  attorney, or the applicant himself or herself, if he or she has no attorney. In  its discretion, the court may except from disclosure a part or parts of the  report that are not relevant to the granting of a certificate, or  sources of information which have been obtained on a promise of  confidentiality, or any other portion of the report, disclosure of which  would not be in the interest of justice. The action of the court excepting  information from disclosure shall be subject to appellate review. The  court, in its discretion, may hold a conference in open court or in  chambers to afford an applicant an opportunity to controvert or to  comment upon any portions of the report. The court may also conduct a  summary hearing at the conference on any matter relevant to the granting  of the application and may take testimony under oath.(f) An employer is not civilly or criminally liable for an act or omission by an employee who has been issued a certificate of relief from disabilities, except for a willful or wanton act by the employer in hiring the employee who has been issued a certificate of relief from disabilities. (Source: P.A. 96-852, eff. 1-1-10.)