Criminal Conviction Notice to Applicants

City of Chicago
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Department of Human Resources
Homero Tristan, Commissioner

The City of Chicago encourages all qualified applicants, including those with a prior criminal conviction history, to apply for City employment. Please be aware that, as part of the hiring process, the City of Chicago conducts a review of each individual's record of criminal convictions. This criminal conviction information is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The fact that an applicant may have a conviction history, standing alone, does not automatically disqualify a candidate. But it is taken into consideration in determining an applicant's suitability for employment.

Pursuant to the Illinois Criminal Identification Act, 20 ILCS 2630/12, you are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction, and the City will not ask you whether you have had any such records sealed or expunged.

Full disclosure of any and all convictions is required of all applicants, unless the records were sealed or expunged. Please be aware that "conviction" applies to all criminal offenses for which you were convicted, regardless of whether the offense was a felony or a misdemeanor. Further, "conviction" includes guilty pleas, in addition to conviction by a jury or a judge, and includes any convictions you are currently appealing. "Conviction" also includes offenses for which you received a sentence of probation or supervision, even if there was no jail or prison time. Finally, "conviction" includes all convictions regardless of whether the conviction was in Illinois, another state, or the federal court.

We will also review criminal history records for active criminal warrants. Applicants must resolve any active criminal warrants before being considered for employment.

Active criminal warrants or failure to disclose any and all convictions that have not been sealed or expunged may result in denial of employment or dismissal from employment with the City of Chicago.