Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

The fact that prescription drugs can be obtained legally from a pharmacy has given rise to two widely believed myths: One, the drugs are somehow less dangerous than other illicit drugs. The other, law enforcement takes their illicit handling less seriously. The reality is, prescription drug abuse can be deadly, and law enforcement is only…

We use computers and smartphones for almost everything in modern society. This has affected many aspects of society, including criminal activity. The advent of smartphones with high-definition cameras has increased the incidence of “revenge porn,” a crime in which the defendant posts online or otherwise distributes private sexual images of the victim without the victim’s…

Property crimes are some of the most common criminal offenses in Chicago. Property crime convictions are also ones that carry serious criminal consequences. That said, facing conviction of a violent crime – one which involves the use of force or threat of force against another – can result in a punishment longer lasting and far…

Most parents fear, on some level, that their children will have a brush with the law. The reality is even good kids do dangerous or stupid things on occasion. If they’re caught, they could face serious legal trouble. As a parent, your first inclination is to help your child in any way that you can.…

Domestic violence is a quite-serious offense that can be met with severe criminal and civil consequences. A domestic violence conviction can be life-changing, even for first-time offenders. Crimes against family and household members are on the rise in Illinois and nationwide. Further, false accusations of domestic violence are also increasing – an estimated 700,000 wrongful…

Killing someone is the most grievous offense one person can commit against another. At the same time, not all homicides are equal in the eyes of the law. Some are considered murder, which can be punishable by life imprisonment in Illinois, while others are considered manslaughter, which can carry a prison term typically under 10…

Prom and graduation season is upon us. Unfortunately, teen drunk driving tends to increase this time of year – as do law enforcement efforts to prevent it. Both of these annual events are known for “booze-fueled revelry,” and while getting behind the wheel under the influence is always a dangerous decision that can lead to…

Embezzlement is a form of white collar crime which may be punishable by lengthy prison sentences, exorbitant fines, and restitution. Despite these serious criminal consequences, embezzlement is sadly fairly common here in Illinois. Take, for example, the former mayor of Posen. He was recently indicted on embezzlement charges for stealing money from the city’s checking…

Petty theft and shoplifting are some of the most common criminal offenses. Because of this, you might think that the penalties would be minor. However, a theft or shoplifting charge is actually quite serious – especially in Illinois. Theft and shoplifting are penalized based on the value of goods allegedly stolen. Both offenses can be…

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…