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Our offices at 6 South Clark Street and all Help Desks are closed until further notice.
Our staff are working remotely from home during normal business hours.
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For information on how to get legal help while our offices are closed, read below.
Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) supports individuals negatively impacted by
the criminal justice system. We are one of the only organizations that
provide legal help to people with criminal backgrounds.
TO APPLY FOR HELP
choose one of the options below
If you already applied for help recently, do not apply again - instead click here.
ADULT & JUVENILE CRIMINAL RECORDS
Includes expungement and sealing
of all criminal records, adult and juvenile, in Illinois. Criminal records include arrests, dismissed cases, and convictions. These records, including juvenile records, are NEVER expunged automatically.
We also provide assistance with alternative forms of relief, including clemency, commutation, healthcare waivers, FDIC waivers, certificates of good conduct and relief from disabilities, and others.​
HOUSING RELIEF
Includes evictions, voucher terminations, and denial of admission to subsidized housing based on criminal activity (actual or alleged), or related to having a criminal record.
If you are facing eviction, voucher termination or denial of admission for any reason unrelated to criminal activity or records (such as failure to pay rent), generally we will be unable to accept your case.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Includes active misdemeanor and felony cases in Chicago. Due to capacity, our help is generally limited to those with less than three felony convictions.
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We generally cannot help those charged with murder/manslaughter, sex or animal crimes, armed robbery, or traffic/DUI.
We also do not help with appeals or post-conviction motions, claims of innocence, prisoner complaints, or federal cases/charges.
FAMILY LAW RELIEF
Includes paternity, custody and visitation, divorce, guardianship, adoption, and child support modification where the child(ren) is located in Chicago.
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Our family law help is generally limited to those who are currently incarcerated or released from prison within the last 6-12 months with a household income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
ORDER OF PROTECTION DEFENSE
Limited to those responding to an order of protection filed against them in Chicago that interferes with their ability to access their child(ren), home, or employment.
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Due to capacity, our assistance is generally limited to those with a household income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
JOB APPLICATION ISSUES
Limited to questions and issues related to having a criminal background, including how to answer questions about a sealed or expunged background on a job application or those who encounter job applications that ask about criminal history before an interview or job offer is given.
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If you have trouble finding a job because of a criminal record, your legal issue is Criminal Records Relief.
Please note, our intake may occasionally be closed for one or more of these issues.