Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

Generally, mandatory minimums are associated with federal courts. However, Illinois state courts also impose mandatory minimum sentencing for drug trafficking convictions. Mandatory minimums are controversial, as judges are forced to impose a minimum sentence for a particular set of crimes (in this case drug trafficking), which is typically quite severe. These minimums are imposed regardless…

Identity theft is an unfortunate reality of modern-day society. It seems these days everyone has either been affected by this crime or knows someone who has at this point, and Illinoisans are no exception. A Glendale Heights woman was recently accused of stealing the identities of more than two dozen victims to open fraudulent bank…

Sex trafficking is a growing problem nationwide, and Illinois has some of the highest sex trafficking rates in the country. Accordingly, sex trafficking is a major priority for law enforcement, and sex trafficking charges are increasing. In fact, the enhanced efforts to eliminate sex trafficking may even lead to overzealous policing, and result in innocent…

Although it is certainly far more preferable to time spent behind bars, you are still very much under the supervision of the criminal justice system if you’re placed on probation. Judges will often commute a prison sentence to probation for low-level and/or first-time offenders. If you’re on probation, your prison sentence is suspended and you’re…

Chicago is notorious for gun violence, and this summer has been no exception. In fact, six people were shot in a single day last week. One of the shootings was fatal. In the fatal shooting, the victim was in an argument with the perpetrator, who pulled out his handgun and shot the victim in the…

Assault charges all on their own are enough to leave you facing felony-level charges, years behind bars and thousands in criminal fines. You’ll also carry around a criminal record of violent crime. All of these consequences pale, however, in comparison to when an assault is also deemed a hate crime. In other words, if prosecutors…

Any felony-level charge is quite serious, as felonies carry lengthy prison sentences and restrictions to your freedom even after your sentence has been served and your case is closed. However, there is an even more serious class of felony, known in the state of Illinois as forcible felonies. Offenders of this type are considered an…

Regardless of the degree and circumstances surrounding the offense, criminal battery can be quite a serious charge. You could potentially face years behind bars, and a criminal record of violent crime can come back to haunt you for years. Aggravated battery charges are even more serious than simple assault and battery. While simple battery often…

Regardless of the circumstances, assault of any kind is considered a violent crime. This criminal offense often results in prison time, and a criminal history of violent crime can impact you far longer than any jail sentence. That said, Illinois law does charge episodes of assault and battery separately from domestic violence. Additionally, domestic assault…

When charged with auto theft in Illinois, you may find yourself facing felony-level penalties — up to 15 years imprisonment and fines capping at $100,000. Unless you’re okay with more than a decade behind bars and fines that amount to financial ruin, it’s imperative you take any auto theft charge you face very seriously. Your…