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Unlawful Use of a Weapon Charge
A common charge in the state of Illinois is Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Often, this charge will be related to firearms, but the law includes other weapons as well, such as knives, explosives, tasers,
Concealed Carry of Firearms in Illinois
Gun owners in Illinois are required to maintain a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card. This license enables individuals in the state to legally possess firearms and ammunition. Residents looking to carry their handguns concealed
Criminal Damage to Property in Illinois
Halloween is a good time to review Criminal Damage to Property charges in Illinois. This holiday encourages harmless pranks and antics, but sometimes young people can get carried away, make mistakes, and need the assistance
Burglary in the State of Illinois
There are a variety of burglary charges that defendants may encounter depending on the circumstances of their arrest. Let’s review a few of the most common types of burglary charges that individuals face in Illinois
Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
One of the most common driving offenses in the state of Illinois is Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. In addition to DUIs written for those under the influence of alcohol, Illinois also prosecutes individuals
Impounded Vehicles in Chicago
There are a variety of reasons that your vehicle may be impounded by the City of Chicago. In the past, we have explored how the City generates a lot of revenue through vehicle impoundment by
Drinking in Public in Chicago
Summer in Chicago provides residents with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors before we are forced inside for another winter. It also provides Chicago Police with many opportunities to write citations for residents drinking alcohol
Reckless Driving in Illinois
In addition to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11-501) or Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (625 ILCS 5/11-204.1), there are other traffic offenses in Illinois that are serious, such as Reckless
Weapons Charges in Illinois
There are a variety of factors that determine the type and severity of weapon charges a defendant may face in Illinois. Illinois has strict gun laws, but weapon charges are not limited to guns. According
Alcohol-Related Charges Common in Illinois
People all across Chicago and Illinois will be celebrating the 4th of July weekend with friends and family at barbecues, fireworks displays, and parties. Many of these celebrations will have alcohol present for guests to
Criminal Trespass Charge in the State of Illinois
Charges for criminal trespass in Illinois range from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony depending on the subsection that is violated. Criminal trespass subsections in Illinois law include: Criminal Trespass to Vehicles
Court Supervision in Illinois
Many of my clients ask me, “What is supervision?” In Illinois, if you are charged with a misdemeanor criminal offense you are most likely eligible for “Court Supervision” even if you are found guilty after
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and Portable Breath Tests
In the State of Illinois, there are number of tests that a law enforcement officer may administer if they suspect a motorist to be intoxicated. First, an officer will administer the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Possession/DUI Laws During Festival Season
Summer is almost here in Chicago, meaning a calendar full of street festivals and concerts nearly every weekend. After a cold winter inside, events like Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, Do Division, and Jazz Fest feel
Expunging/Sealing Criminal Records in Illinois
In many instances, you are able to request that your criminal records are expunged or sealed after a period of time after the offense occurred. There are differences between expunging and sealing. Expunging vs. Sealing
Public Urination Ordinance in Chicago
According to DNA Info, the places you are most likely to get a ticket for public urination are “typically close to a train station, a boozy stretch of nightclubs or both.” Areas like Division and
Assault Charges Under Illinois Law
Under Illinois law, an individual commits “assault” when, “without lawful authority, he or she knowingly engages in conduct which places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery.” That means that assault is committed when
Unlawful Possession of Ammunition in Illinois
To legally possess a firearm in the State of Illinois an individual must carry and maintain a Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card. However, you may not know that a FOID card is also required to
Domestic Battery in Illinois
The most serious misdemeanor offense you can face in Illinois is Domestic Battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3.2). Only a DUI (625 ILCS 5/11-503) may jeopardize your career, family circumstances, and personal life as much as a
Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding
In addition to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11-501) or Reckless Driving (625 ILCS 5/11-503), there are other traffic offenses in Illinois that are serious, such as Aggravated Fleeing or
Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Illinois
Weapon and firearm offenses are serious criminal cases for prosecuting attorneys in both Federal and Illinois State courts. A common charge is Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Though other weapon types fall under this charge,
Probation Violation Hearings in Cook County
Defendants facing criminal charges in Cook County should be concerned about the possibility of jail or prison time. However, only a small percentage of first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies will be sentenced
Sentence Credit in Illinois
In Illinois, defendants facing years of prison may not actually have to complete their entire sentence. Defendants are often eligible for sentence credit based on the completion of programs or services rendered while they are
Retail Theft in Illinois
In Illinois, there are different levels of retail theft charges for which the punishments can differ. A punishment can increase from misdemeanor to felony after a theft exceeds a relatively low monetary value. Retail theft
Bail Bonds in Cook County
In Illinois, a defendant charged with a felony criminal offense is entitled to a bond hearing to determine the amount of bail. A person charged with an offense is allowed counsel at the hearing at
Motion to Dismiss Criminal Charge for Improper Venue
A court’s jurisdiction is “the authority given by law to a court to try cases and rule on legal matters within a particular geographic area and/or over certain types of legal cases.” Basically, it is
Right to Refuse a Portable Breath Test (PBT)
In Illinois, there are two chemical breath tests that may be offered to a person suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. First, after an officer administers the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFTS), he
Second-Degree Murder in Illinois
The City of Chicago recently saw the case of Jason Van Dyke, who was charged with first-degree murder. Before the jury began deliberating, they were told that they could also consider a second-degree murder conviction
Possession of Ammunition Without a FOID Card (430 ILCS 65/2)
Many people who possess guns in Illinois do not know the laws regarding these weapons and often face serious criminal charges. However, not all weapons charges are felonies. There are common misdemeanor charges in the
Illinois’s First Time Weapon Offender Program
Over the last decade the Cook County State’s Attorney Office and the Illinois General Assembly have worked to offer programs to first time offenders for drug and theft offenses. These First Offender Programs are designed