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Is there any Defense to Statutory Rape in Illinois?
Sexually based offenses are a sensitive and contentious category of crimes. Statutory rape is a criminal act that is based more on a technicality rather
Can Evidence be Excluded at a Criminal Trial in Illinois?
The short answer to this question is yes, some evidence of a crime can be excluded at trial. There are many reasons for suppressing evidence,
Are Synthetic Drugs Illegal in Illinois?
Synthetic drugs are chemically laced substances manufactured to mimic the effects of illegal drugs like marijuana and methamphetamines. Common names for these synthetics drugs are
Is a Warrantless Blood Test Allowed in Illinois?
Under Illinois Statute 625-5/11-501.1, drivers are required to submit to a blood, urine, or breath test if arrested for a DUI in Illinois. Authority for this
What is Involuntary Manslaughter in Illinois?
Involuntary manslaughter is the term used to describe the unintentional killing of another person. It is the least severe charge for the crime of homicide.
What is Assault and Battery in Illinois?
Although these two terms are closely related, they are two distinct criminal offenses. In order to understand the crime of assault, you must also understand
Is Intoxication a Valid Defense to a Crime in Illinois?
The basic principles of Criminal Law require that a criminal act be committed voluntarily and with some sort of statutorily prescribed intent in order to
Defining Disorderly Conduct Under Illinois Law
The charge of Disorderly Conduct is a criminal offense under Illinois Law. Disorderly Conduct is a broad term that encompasses a lot of activity and
What is Considered a White-Collar Crime in Illinois?
The term “white-collar crime” is one that you may have heard, but it doesn’t really describe what this classification means or includes. You may also
What are the Consequences of a No-Contest Plea in Illinois?
When charged with a crime, you must enter a plea to that crime. You can plead not guilty, guilty, or no-contest. You are likely familiar with
Can I go to Prison for a DUI in Illinois?
This may seem like a silly question since it is pretty common knowledge that you can be arrested for a DUI. Notice, though, that the
Who is an Accomplice Under Illinois Law?
At its most basic, criminal law has certain components to define liability for a criminal act. The Latin terms, actus reas and mens rea refer to the physical act
What is the Conspiracy Law in Illinois?
The crime of conspiracy is one of very few crimes that are punishable without actually having committed the plotted crime. This type of crime is
What are Class X Felonies in Illinois?
Crimes are classified according to type and severity. Felonies are notoriously the most serious crimes, usually carrying a minimum of one-year incarceration. In Illinois there
Is GPS Tracking Legal in Illinois?
The answer to this question depends on who is doing the tracking and under what circumstances. What you should be most concerned about is whether
What are the Self-Defense Laws in Illinois?
Life is one of the most protected and sacred concepts in our society. This is reflected in religious beliefs, basic morality, and the law. We
Can Police use a Drug Dog to Search Me in Illinois?
The U.S. Supreme Court decided the controversy over whether dog-sniffs can be used to determine probable cause last month in the case of Florida v. Jardines.
What are the Limits on Search Warrants in Illinois?
Search warrants may seem like a free pass for police to look for whatever they want, but that is not true. Like most rules of
What is the Felony Murder Law in Illinois?
Murder is arguably the most serious crime our laws recognize. So serious that many factors are considered when accusing someone of the crime, like motive,
Are police allowed to search my vehicle in Illinois without consent?
Our Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures means that police must have a warrant to search us or our belongings
Can I Lose my Gun for Domestic Violence in Illinois?
Domestic disturbances are an unfortunate but common occurrence in everyday life. Stress, relationship troubles, misunderstandings, and intoxication can all lead to a domestic disturbance. Allegations
Can I Go to Jail for Drinking on the Street in Chicago?
Last week, Chicago’s City Council approved certain amendments to the Municipal Code that increases penalties for some public crimes. As the Chicago Sun Times recently reported, fines
What are Stop-and-Frisk laws in Illinois?
A recent development in New York City prompts a frank discussion about what Stop-and-Frisk laws are, how they are unofficially changing, and how you can
Am I allowed to video record the Police in Illinois?
Smartphones are a device that most of us can’t seem to live without. If you have one, you likely aren’t ever very far away from
When do I have a right to an attorney?
This may seem like an easy question to answer, especially if you are familiar with Miranda rights. However, there are some differences between Miranda and your specific right to
What are Miranda rights?
Police encounters that end in arrest should include a reading of your Miranda rights. You are probably familiar with the term or recognize the litany of rights
How can I appeal a criminal case in Illinois?
The justice system is set up to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, but the reality is that the system isn’t perfect. If your
How common are false confessions?
Last month, the Chicago Tribune reported on the use of polygraph examinations by the Chicago Police Department to get false confessions. This shocking article tells of police
What are my rights when I approach a sobriety checkpoint?
This is the age of Facebook, Twitter, and any other instant message update available. These social media platforms have been useful for consumers to warn
Can I Be Accused of Kidnapping My Own Children?
Family dynamics are often very complicated. Family becomes even more complicated when couples who have children break-up. Most parents are looking out for their children’s
What Does a Warrant Really Mean?
Most people are quite familiar with the word “warrant.” We can see the drama play out on popular TV shows when the police hastily get
Are You a Victim of Racial Profiling?
If you have been following the local news, you may know that Chicago’s murder rate has been extremely high in recent years. As a result, local
What Can I Do To Clean Up My Criminal Record?
These days, you can’t get passed most applications for all sorts of things without some kind of background check. If you have a criminal record
Can You Get Arrested for Sexting?
With the rapidly increasing world of technology and information, you are probably well aware of the many uses such devices and instant sharing are put
Small businesses could face prosecution for crime based on legitimate tax disputes
The Illinois legislatures, concerned over reports that some small businesses, gas stations in particularly, were not paying in to the state sales tax money collected
What is the Family Fugitive Concealment Law in Illinois?
Aiding family members charged with a crime now itself a crime in Illinois. Illinois residents who have a family member charged with a crime should
Family Fugitive Concealment
Aiding family members charged with a crime now itself a crime in Illinois Illinois residents who have a family member charged with a crime should
Can I get supervision for an aggravated speeding ticket?
The stakes in many trials on speeding charges in Illinois are about to get much more serious. The Illinois legislature enacted a new law, referred
Can parents get in trouble for allowing teens to drink in their homes?
Parents, guardians and even unrelated adults who allow underage drinking of alcohol can face harsh penalties under a new Illinois law in effect in 2013.
Is Concealed Carry Legal in Illinois?
It is virtually impossible to to open a newspaper or turn on a television without seeing news about political battles related to gun control. The
What are the drug penalties in Illinois
If the recent drug crime events in Illinois are anything to go by, then there is no doubt at all that Illinois police are doing
How a Routine Offense Could Ruin your Record
During a news conference on Monday, Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy revealed plans to introduce a “broken windows” approach to the city of Chicago. This would
Don’t Let Past DUIs Haunt You
Last week, 42-year-old Michael J. Picon, a former West Chicago resident, was sentenced with 10 years in prison after being charged with his 11th DUI. He
