Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

If you are facing criminal charges, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is your criminal record. After all, the idea of spending time in prison, paying exorbitant fines, or even having to deal with something like community service or a driver’s license suspension seems like a far bigger deal. But what you may not…

Sex offenses are serious crimes, and those accused of a sex crime can face severe penalties in Illinois. In addition to serving years in prison, sex offenders convicted of certain sex crimes and/or crimes against children must register as a sex offender. The Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act was created to make public information easily…

It doesn’t matter if you just have a little bit. Or if you forgot that it was there. Or if you were in the privacy of your own home. The Illinois Controlled Substances Act criminalizes the knowing manufacturing, delivery, and possession of drugs. If you are in possession of a controlled substance, there are two…

A domestic violence conviction can alter your life in many ways. One of the most important impacts a conviction can have is on current and future child custody arrangements. Illinois law considers the best interest of the child paramount when ruling on a custody case. Consequently, custody cases often start with the presumption that it…

When you think of holiday drinking, New Year’s Eve or Saint Patrick’s Day probably come to mind. Thanksgiving probably isn’t first the holiday that you would associate with drunk driving. But the Thanksgiving Holidays have more than their fair share of drinking. In fact, a study conducted by Forbes found that the Thanksgiving Holidays have…

[clickToTweet tweet=”There are a number of misconceptions regarding the criminal charge of public indecency.” quote=”There are a number of misconceptions regarding the criminal charge of public indecency.”] Public indecency is a serious but complicated charge, and the conviction, penalties, and other consequences depend heavily on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Generally speaking, the crime of…

Violating the terms of your probation is a serious matter. When you break your agreement with the courts, you risk going to jail or prison, incurring heavy fines, and more. If you have been convicted of a crime, one thing that may happen is that you will be sentenced to probation. During this time period,…

Theft crime is a group of crimes encompassing everything from shoplifting to burglary to embezzlement. All of the criminal acts under this term are centered on taking something that doesn’t belong to you. Under Illinois criminal statutes, theft occurs when an individual takes unauthorized control over property of another obtains control over property of another…

Sexual assault is a serious crime, and those accused of this charge in Illinois face some of the heaviest penalties of any crime in the state. There are a few classifications of criminal sexual assault, and though all carry severe penalties, some charges are significantly worse than others. Criminal sexual assault, also known as rape,…

Chicago has found itself at center stage in the gun debate following recent mass shootings. Many claim that Chicago’s strict gun laws show gun control legislation doesn’t work, because Chicago has one of the highest rates of gun murders of any city. But for some, Chicago’s “strict gun laws” aren’t strict enough. Many police have…