Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

How will you know if your Illinois offense will be charged as a federal crime? The short answer: for the most part, you don’t. Technically, any act that violates a federal law can be tried at the federal level – and most of the laws of our state have their own federal versions. However, in…

In Illinois, it is a crime to enter a building or structure without authorization and with the intent of committing a crime once inside, whether that place is a residence, business, school, public facility, place of worship, or even a vehicle. This criminal act is charged as burglary or residential burglary in our state. Importantly,…

Over 1,000 women are murdered each year in America due to domestic violence. It is an epidemic that affects men, women, and families regardless of race, socio-economic status, religion, or family structure, creating a traumatic experience for every member of the family, whether they are a victim, witness, or abuser. If you are charged and…

The social attitude toward child discipline has shifted over the last several decades so that many disciplinary actions previously viewed as ordinary are now understood to be harming some of the most vulnerable people in society, and the severity of the penalties and sentencing associated with criminal child abuse charges reflect that. However, the array…

These days, everybody wants to talk about Jussie Smollet, and it’s understandable why – the twists and turns in the case feel like we’re watching a TV courtroom drama unfold in real life. At times like this, though, it’s important to remember that there are real people being affected. That’s something I had in the…

Have you been charged with bribery in Illinois? Are you under investigation? Do you just want to understand how the law works to make sure you’re abiding by it? In this post, we’re going to detail laws and associated penalties, and cover what you can do to fight back if you do find yourself getting…

Ordering drugs in the mail over the so-called “dark net” has become popular with drug users and dealers alike. The dark net is (in theory) anonymous, and drugs ordered from these sources are generally cheaper and purer than street drugs. Plus, they don’t carry the risk of dealing with cartels or distributors. Because this tactic…

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…

Our state takes domestic violence charges very seriously. So seriously, that law enforcement officers must arrest an offender if they have evidence of any injury to the victim In other words, if police are called in and there is a domestic dispute where one party appears to have injured the other, they are required to…

If you have been arrested for a white collar crime in Illinois, you might be feeling a lot of different emotions. Though white collar crimes aren’t violent in nature, the law takes these offenses very seriously. Offenders often face heavy fines and years behind bars for what may have started as a little white lie…