AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT

Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Provides that the arrest, conviction, and court records of a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor shall be expunged and sealed automatically after completion of his or her sentence, if certain conditions apply. Provides that the arrest, conviction, and court records of a person convicted of a Class 4 felony, other than a sex crime or crime of violence, shall be automatically expunged after completion of the person's sentence, if certain conditions apply. Requires the State Appellate Defender to establish an expungement information program. Provides that upon the entry of an expungement order, the person, for purposes of the law, shall be considered not to have been previously convicted. Provides that the past conviction of a person who has been pardoned with respect to the conviction and the records relative to the arrest and underlying conduct cannot be considered by any private or public entity in employment matters, certification, licensing, revocation, registration, in determining good character, or any other matter, whether obtained through the official records of the arrest or obtained from other sources. Divulging an expunged record is a Class B misdemeanor.