Print Form Petition for Certificate of Innocence Clear Form (3/23/09) CCCR 0240 A IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS CRIMINAL DIVISION The People of the State of Illinois v. _____________________________________________ Defendant/Petitioner } No. ______________________________ PETITION FOR CERTIFICATE OF INNOCENCE The Defendant/Petitioner petitions the Court for a Certificate of Innocence pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-702. In support of this petition, the Defendant/Petitioner states that s/he will establish by a preponderance of the evidence that: 1. I was convicted of one or more felonies in the above captioned case by the State of Illinois and subsequently sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and have served all or any part of the sentence; and 2. My judgment or conviction was reversed or vacated, and the indictment or information dismissed or, a new trial was ordered and either I was found not guilty at the new trial or I was not retried and the indictment and information was dismissed; or the statute, or application thereof, on which the indictment or information was based violated the Constitution of the United States or the State of Illinois; 3. After September 22, 2008, my indictment or information was dismissed or I was acquitted, and I am filing this Petition within 2 years of the dismissal of the indictment or information or acquittal, or before September 22, 2008, my indictment or information was dismissed or I was acquitted, and I am acquitted, and I am filing this Petition within 2 years of September 22, 2008; 4. I have attached to this Petition documentation demonstrating the statements in paragraphs 1-3, above; 5. I am innocent of the offenses charged in the indictment or information, or my acts or omissions charged in the indictment or information did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor against the State; 6. I did not by my own conduct voluntarily cause or bring about my conviction; and I believe I am likely to succeed at trial in proving that I am innocent of the offenses charged in the indictment or information, or my acts or omissions charged in the indictment of information did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor against the State of Illinois. Please explain: __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ (OVER) DOROTHY BROWN, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS (3/23/09) CCCR 0240 B __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Continued on attached sheets numbered ______ through ______. 7. I understand that the decision to grant or deny a certificate of innocence shall be binding only with respect to claims filed in the Court of Claims and shall not have a res judicata effect on any other proceedings. 735 ILCS 5/2-702 (j). 8. I understand that I must serve a copy of this Petition on the Attorney General and the State’s Attorney of the county where the conviction was had. 735 ILCS 5/2-702 (e). 9. I understand that in the event my Petition is granted and a Certificate of Innocence Order is issued, the Clerk of the Circuit Court will transmit a copy of the certification, together with the current address, to the Court of Claims. WHEREFORE, the Petitioner prays that the court find that the Defendant/Petitioner is innocent of all offenses for which s/he was incarcerated in the above-stated case number(s) and grant a certificate of innocence. Atty. No.: __________________ Pro Se 99500 Name: _____________________________________________ ____________________________________ Signature of Defendant/Petitioner Address: _________________________________________ City/State/Zip: ___________________________________ Telephone: ___________________________________ DOROTHY BROWN, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS