Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

Illinois assault or battery charges are usually punishable by jail time, hefty fines, and/or hours of community service. You’ll also be left with a criminal record of violent crime. That’s nearly where the similarities between these crimes end…at least in the eyes of Illinois law. Although the consequences for either assault or battery are severe,…

The holidays are upon us, meaning that the mail is overloaded with packages of all kinds. During this hectic time of year, it’s not unusual to receive packages that aren’t addressed to you. In some cases, it’s not even possible to return the package to its intended recipient. So in this case, what do you…

You were arrested for a crime you did or didn’t commit. You served your time – or may have been found innocent. You’re probably thinking the whole thing is behind you now and you can get back on with your life. Unfortunately, you now have a criminal record in Illinois, and it’s probably going to…

If drinking is part of your family’s holiday tradition, you might be tempted to let your teen partake in a small amount of alcohol. This is okay – but only under certain circumstances. Therefore, if you’re going to allow your teen to drink over the holidays this year, it’s important to know what you can…

Airport security can be stressful enough, but when officers walk by with dogs, everyone seems to tighten up. No one wants a drug-sniffing dog to walk by and start barking. Unfortunately, countless drug-sniffing dogs have made a scene over someone who wasn’t doing anything illegal. Some studies even show that these dogs are more often…

Probation is preferable to imprisonment, but if you’re sentenced to probation, you’re still very much under the justice system’s thumb. This means that it’s very important to understand the basics of probation, and the terms of your specific probation program to avoid a probation violation. We’ve put together a short FAQ list covering the basics…

The Christmas season is nearly upon us again. It’s that time of year to prepare for presents, family dinners, and…you guessed it — identity theft. As the sheer volume of online holiday purchases continues to soar, it only makes sense that the holiday season doesn’t just mean an increase in retail theft anymore, but in…

If you’ve been hit with a domestic violence charge, there are probably many important questions running through your mind…and for good reason. These charges not only have serious criminal and civil implications but can also permanently damage your reputation. We’ve put together a guide covering the questions we’re frequently asked regarding domestic violence charges, and…

The use of marijuana has been a controversial topic for decades. Many have argued that the use of marijuana is a relatively harmless act and that criminalizing it is a waste of law-enforcement resources. On the other hand, even a small possession charge held severe consequences in most states. That is, until relatively recently. Now,…

For many, burglary and theft are two very different things – one just means taking things that don’t belong to you, while the other refers to breaking into a house or store to take those things. While there is some truth to that line of reasoning, it’s not completely correct. The legal definition of burglary…