In Illinois, certain records can be removed from public access. However, you must petition the Illinois government; removal never happens automatically. An eligible person must petition the court for records to be expunged or sealed. Without a petition, the records don’t go away. In evaluating a petition, the court determines if it is necessary, beneficial, and safe for you to have your records sealed. If the judge has found in the you favor, there are two types of orders possible: an expungement, or a sealing of records.