Articles Posted in Criminal Defense

Regardless of how a person winds up in prison, all prisoners’ rights are the same. This is true even during the current pandemic or any other natural disaster for that matter. One of those rights is personal safety. To help protect that right and to prevent further COVID-19 infections in the state prison system, certain…

When charged with a crime in Illinois, it’s essential to understand the consequences that come with a conviction. It’s not simply about being found guilty or innocent, but about a judge determining your sentence. That sentence can be heavily influenced by aggravating as well as mitigating factors. Criminal Sentencing: What Happens? While each criminal case…

It’s a common trope in crime TV: someone is arrested and they’re told they have the right to remain silent, among other things. This is what most people think of when they hear the term “Miranda Rights,” and these rights are legally guaranteed to all US citizens should they be arrested. There’s more to your…

If a police officer comes to your home to interview you, he or she may ask to enter and conduct a search. Legally, you have the right to say no unless the officer has a search warrant or has reason to believe that you are harboring a suspect they are immediately pursuing. You can and…

If you get arrested in Chicago, it’s important to know your rights. An officer can arrest you if he or she sees you committing a crime, has probable cause that you committed a felony, or if he or she has a warrant for your arrest. In this post, we’re going to tell you what not…

Crimes are classified both by the type and the severity of the offense. Felonies are considered more serious than misdemeanors, and in Illinois they typically carry a minimum of one year of incarceration. Even amongst felonies, though, there are degrees of seriousness. Our state has five classes of felonies – Class 4, Class 3, Class…

If you have been charged with a crime in or around Chicago, you might wonder if you need a lawyer. If it’s worth it to hire someone to defend your or if you’re better off just taking your chances and hoping for the best. Do not make that mistake. Not getting an attorney to represent…

Recently, there have been a number of residential burglary charges filed in Chicago where the defendants were hit with multiple counts. What does that mean? In this post, we’ll describe the residential burglary laws in Illinois and their penalties – including how multiple counts work, and what you can do to protect your rights if…

The debate over drug crimes in America still invokes big emotions, and can bring progress to a standstill amongst lawmakers. You may have seen the news reports last month about Illinois lawmakers who failed to move a bill forward due to its attempt to shorten drug sentences. Well, that bill has since been amended, and…

When you face felony charges, the road ahead may be unclear. You know that a felony conviction could mean years in jail or big fines, but what happens in between a charge and a conviction? How do people defend themselves? When do you have to go to court? There are a few steps between when…