When you think of a felony, you probably picture courtroom drama and potential prison time. But in Chicago, a felony conviction is just the beginning of a much bigger story. The consequences that follow can affect your life in ways you might not expect, from being locked out of certain job markets to losing basic rights like voting or gun ownership. It’s not just about serving time—it’s about navigating a world that often closes its doors to convicted felons.

What Is Considered a Felony in Chicago?

Felonies are serious offenses under Illinois law. They are typically more severe than misdemeanors, often resulting in less harsh penalties such as shorter jail time or fines. But felonies? They can land you in prison for years, if not decades, and come with lasting ramifications.

Legal Classification of Felonies in Illinois

In Illinois, felonies are classified into five categories: Class X, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4. Class X felonies are the most severe, involving crimes like armed robbery or aggravated sexual assault. Lower classifications—like Class 4 felonies—cover less violent but still severe crimes, such as some types of drug possession or property crimes. The class of felony you’re convicted of significantly affects your sentence.

Types of Felony Offenses

In Chicago, common felony crimes include:

• Drug trafficking
• Aggravated assault
• Fraud
• Burglary
• Violent crimes like murder or armed robbery

Each crime carries its own legal and personal consequences, but they all share one thing: a felony conviction will follow you long after your sentence is served.

Immediate Legal Consequences of a Felony Conviction

Incarceration and Fines

In Illinois, felonies come with hefty prison sentences and financial penalties. For example, a Class X felony could land you in prison for six to thirty years without the possibility of probation. On top of that, felons are often required to pay substantial fines and restitution, which can put financial strain on both the convicted individual and their family.

Probation and Parole

Probation and parole are common alternatives or additions to prison time. However, these come with stringent conditions. If you’re placed on probation or parole, you must regularly check in with an officer, comply with strict rules, and avoid further legal trouble. Violating any conditions of probation or parole can send you straight back to prison.

Long-Term Personal Consequences

Once the legal dust has settled, the real battle begins. Life after a felony conviction is far from easy, and the personal consequences can be just as harsh as the legal ones.

Employment Challenges

Employers in Chicago can legally conduct background checks, and many are hesitant to hire someone with a felony conviction on their record. Certain industries, like education, healthcare, and finance, may flat-out refuse to consider felons for employment. That said, some state laws aim to mitigate this, but the road remains tough.

Impact on Housing Opportunities

Looking for a place to live? Be prepared for rejection. Landlords are often reluctant to rent to individuals with felony convictions, and public housing in Chicago has strict rules that can disqualify felons from eligibility.

Loss of Voting Rights

In Illinois, convicted felons lose their right to vote while serving time. Fortunately, voting rights are restored upon completion of a sentence, but many people aren’t even aware they can re-register.

Education and Financial Aid Limitations

Many schools are hesitant to admit felons, and qualifying for financial aid becomes an uphill battle. These restrictions make it difficult to pursue higher education and further reduce career opportunities.

Social and Familial Consequences

Strained Relationships and Family Dynamics

A felony conviction doesn’t just affect you—it affects your family. The emotional toll on loved ones can be significant, as many relationships become strained or severed altogether. Child custody disputes are common, with courts often denying visitation or custody rights to convicted felons.

Social Stigma and Community Alienation

Even after serving your time, societal judgment lingers. Communities can be unwelcoming, and social alienation is a frequent consequence of a felony conviction. Rebuilding a network of friends and support becomes a monumental task.

Chicago Felony Defense Attorney You Can Trust

Felony convictions in Chicago come with serious, life-altering consequences, but the right defense can make all the difference. Andrew M. Weisberg’s proven track record in criminal defense means he knows how to dismantle the prosecution’s case, suppress evidence, and expose weaknesses. Whether you’re dealing with serious drug charges, gun crimes, or financial felonies, his prowess in Chicago’s legal landscape could be the key to protecting your rights and your future. Don’t risk going through this without the best defense—connect with us online or call (773) 908-9811 today to start building your case.

When someone mentions the word “crime”, most people’s minds automatically jump to violent crime.

That goes to show that you don’t need intimate knowledge of the law to understand how violent crimes are serious offenses. Statistics back up the notion that violent crimes are the most serious in society.

CBS Chicago recently reported that, in one weekend, five people were killed and 22 wounded across the city. The youngest victim was just 14 years old. These killings were all linked to shootings. Under Illinois law, they all counted as violent crimes.

What is a violent crime? How is it different from other types of crime, and how is it punished? Read on to find out more.

Violent Crime in Illinois

In Illinois, certain crimes are considered so heinous that they have a category all their own: violent crimes.

These crimes carry the harshest penalties in the criminal justice system. Many have serious minimum mandatory sentences.

Crimes that are considered violent involve the threat of harm or actual harm to someone else. Examples of these include:

• Murder – Defined as the unlawful killing of someone.
• Rape – Defined as sexual penetration of a victim:
  • Under force or threat of force
  • Who is unable to consent
  • Who is a minor and related to the perpetrator
  • Over whom the perpetrator holds a position of trust or authority.
• Arson – By means of explosives or fire, knowingly causing damage to real property, when it’s reasonably expected that people are inside the structure.
• Battery – Injuring or making offensive contact with another, involving:
  • the use of a weapon
  • victims of a protected class
  • severe injury to the victim.
• Reckless discharge of a firearm – Acting in a manner with a firearm that the defendant knows or should have known could cause harm or injury to others.
• Robbery – The intentional seizure of another’s property using force or the threat of force.
• Kidnapping – Knowingly confining another person against their will by force or threat of force.
• Assault – Handling a weapon in such a way that another person feels threatened.
• Domestic violence – Physically abusing, harassing, intimidating, or interfering with the personal liberty of a family or household member.

The Penalties for Violent Crimes

There are two main categories of violent crimes in Illinois. They can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

For misdemeanors, there is a maximum jail sentence of up to 12 months.

Most violent crimes in Illinois are considered felonies. Because of this, they carry much harsher penalties, including life in prison for some.

The most serious penalties are for Class 1 felonies and Class X felonies. Kidnapping, murder, and sexual assault are examples of this level of violent crime. Their minimum sentence is four years in prison – but the maximum penalty can be life.

Sentencing depends on the circumstances surrounding the crime and the status of the victim. The defendant’s criminal history also plays a role in resulting penalties if convicted.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, murder, and drug crimes. His work has been recognized by Avvo, Expertise, National Trial Lawyers, and others, and he has been featured on countless news outlets for his experience and knowledge in criminal law.

Chicago sees its fair share of violence and crime, but over a weekend at the end of May, violence saw a new high.

According to the University of Chicago Crime Lab, May 31, 2020, was the most violent day Chicago has seen since it started collecting data in 1961. Eighteen people were killed in one day, and 25 were killed in total before the weekend was over.

Murder is a crime that carries with it severe penalties, but being charged with murder doesn’t mean you will spend the rest of your life in prison. There are a number of ways that you can mount a defense against murder charges, and no two murder cases are charged or tried the same way. Here’s what you need to know about being charged with murder in Chicago.

Understanding Murder Charges in Illinois

Causing the death of another person can result in being charged with murder in Illinois. The type of murder charge someone will face depends on the circumstances and facts surrounding the case. The factor that often determines the type of murder charge is the intent of the person being charged when the crime was committed.

The most common types of murder charges include:

First Degree Murder

The most serious murder charge someone can face is first degree murder. In general, it’s defined as the intentional killing of someone else without legal justification. In Illinois, there are three scenarios that often result in first degree murder charges. These are:

• Intending to kill or cause great bodily harm to someone else
• Committing or attempt to commit a forcible felony, such as robbery or sexual assault, at the same time as the murder
• Understanding that the acts undertaken create the possibility of or death

Acting in a way that causes the killing of another, coupled with intent to kill them, will likely result in first degree murder charges, but it must be shown that the person committing the crime was deliberate in their actions and in thought.

Second Degree Murder

Second degree murder differs from first degree in how the crime is justified. In Illinois, second degree murder can be charged if the death of another person occurs when the accused:

• Was acting under an intense and sudden crime of passion that was the result of provocation by the victim or someone else
• Believed mistakenly that the murder was justified legally

Self-defense and crimes of passion are common examples of situations that can result in a second degree murder charge. The defendant must be able to prove that one of the mitigating factors mentioned existed at the time the crime occurred.

Penalties for Illinois Murder

In our state, if you are found guilty of murder, you can face serious penalties.

First Degree Murder Sentencing

If found responsible of first degree murder, the least possible sentence in Chicago is 20 years served in prison. If there are no aggravating factors, the sentence cannot be more than 60 years. However, aggravating factors can increase the sentence. These factors include things such as:

• Victim under the age of 12
• Victim over the age of 60
• Victim was a corrections officer, firefighter, or police officer
• Murder was done for compensation
• Victim’s death was the result of a hijacking
• Victim was under a protective order
• Victim was tortured before they died

Aggravated first degree murder is punishable in Illinois by life in prison.

Second Degree Murder Sentencing

Being found guilty of a second degree murder is a Class 1 felony in Illinois. If convicted, between four and 20 years can be served in prison.

Understanding the ramifications for murder, even if done as a crime of passion or self-defense, is crucial to fighting your charges and protecting your future.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, murder, and drug crimes. His work has been recognized by Avvo, Expertise, National Trial Lawyers, and others, and he has been featured on countless news outlets for his experience and knowledge in criminal law.

With several national incidents of mass murders in the headlines this year, a number of reports have appeared alleging that domestic violence is a precursor to mass shootings. The histories of many of the shooters would seem to support this.

Devin Patrick Kelley, the man who killed 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas in November 2017, had a history of domestic violence. In 2012, he was convicted on charges of domestic violence and was dishonorably discharged from the Air Force. He served one year in prison for beating and choking his wife and fracturing his stepson’s skull.

In June 2016, Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured 70 others in a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Though he had choked his wives, he was never charged for domestic violence.

Another shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport in January 2017 was allegedly committed by Esteban Santiago, 26, who killed five and injured six. He had been charged in January 2016 with assault for choking a former girlfriend.

Cedric Ford killed three co-workers in Kansas in 2016 and had a previous misdemeanor charge for choking his ex-girlfriend.

One exception is Stephen Craig Paddock, 64, who killed 58 people and injured over 500 others in the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting. He had no previous incidents of domestic violence on his record.

Four out of five would seem like a pretty big connection – but are these just cherry-picked examples? Not exactly.

What the Research Shows

In a widely publicized study by Everytown for Gun Safety, it was found that mass shooters in America killed a family member or romantic partner in 54 percent of mass shootings of four or more people. The study looked at incidents for the years 2009 through 2016 and found that 422 people were killed in mass shootings, and over 40 percent were children.

Out of the 10 million women assaulted by their partners each year in the U.S., over four million say that they have been threatened with a gun. One report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics states that nearly half of female homicides were committed by intimate partners in 2007, and if a perpetrator uses a firearm, the risk of homicide increases by 500 percent.

Overall, American women experience a much higher risk of being killed by a gun than women in other developed countries, and homicide was the fifth-highest cause of death for women ages 18 to 44 in 2015.

All of this is very bad, but does it prove the assertion that previous domestic violence convictions are an indicator that someone will engage in a mass shooting?

Researching the Research Uncovers Fallacies

A closer look at the Everytown study reveals that in the 156 shootings that were evaluated, only 25 percent of the whole revealed prior incidents of domestic violence. If you consider the 85 shootings in which a family member or intimate partner was killed, 41 percent of those shootings involved prior domestic violence incidents.

Every year in the United States, around 10 million cases of domestic violence are reported and there are about 20 annual mass shootings that kill at least four people. It’s simply not correct or fair to say that of those 10 million incidents, over half are predictors for incidents of mass shootings.

We cannot start preemptively assuming that those facing a domestic violence charge will one day engage in a mass killing. Not only do the numbers not bear this out, our justice system was founded based on the idea of innocent until proven guilty. Punishing someone for a crime they have not and may not ever commit is the antithesis of this most American of ideals.

If you have been charged with domestic violence, you need the help of a knowledgeable attorney. Get in touch today for a free case review, and start putting together the strongest defense possible.

About the Author:

Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, murder, and drug crimes.