Illinois takes domestic violence charges extremely seriously, and in Chicago, police officers do not take lightly to offenders who have been accused of harming loved ones. These crimes are serious, and police officers, lawyers, and judges are all working together to make sure that domestic violence is not tolerated in our state.

However, despite Illinois’s fervor to completely eradicate domestic violence, our state’s complicated laws can sometimes thwart its own efforts. Some of the domestic violence laws are too nuanced or too vague, thus making them more unhelpful than helpful. In some cases, the laws can not only hinder the state’s efforts to crack down on violence, but they can create serious danger for anybody accused of domestic battery.

Illinois Domestic Battery Law

According to Illinois law, an individual commits domestic battery if he or she:

• Causes bodily harm to any family or household member, and/or
• Makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with any family or household member

Unfortunately, “physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature” can be just about anything. Although this law is of course intended to protect innocent citizens, it can be disastrous for wrongfully accused men or women. Sometimes, stressful or surprising situations can cause an individual to react in a way that may take somebody else by surprise. Even if the first individual had no violent intentions at all, if his or her actions were perceived as such, they could end up facing serious legal consequences.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Illinois’s domestic battery law means that even the most minor contact can be considered domestic battery” quote=”Illinois’s domestic battery law means that even the most minor contact can be considered domestic battery.”] Worse, there doesn’t even have to be any physical contact involved at all. If a person makes a threatening gesture—or, more accurately, if a person is believed to have made a threatening gesture—he or she may wake up to cops knocking at the door the next morning.

When the Laws Backfire

As mentioned, these laws exist to keep people safe. Men and women in violent relationships can take comfort in these laws and in knowing that there are rules in place that will protect them and ensure their safety.

For accused individuals, though, these laws can be presumptuous, intrusive, and unfair. What happens if a “domestic battery” charge is just the result of a misunderstanding? What if a gesture that someone else perceived as threatening was never intended to be malicious at all?

Misunderstandings and misinterpretations happen all the time. Usually, the consequences of a misunderstanding like this are not too severe, but if cops are called and the law gets involved, things can go downhill fast for the accused.

The consequences of a domestic battery charge can be disastrous. As with most crimes, the consequences get worse with each charge. If this is your first offense, you may be facing a fine of $2,500 and up to one year in a jail. But if it is a second or third offense—which would kick the charge up from a misdemeanor to a felony—the consequences could be much more severe: up to three years in prison.

Consequences like this are far too serious to risk, especially if they are the results of the most minor physical contact. Not only could you be faced with immediate jail time and fines, but you may also wind up with a mark on your permanent record, which could have repercussions for the rest of your life.

What to Do If You’re Charged with Domestic Battery

In any situation, if you’re convicted of domestic battery, whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony, and whether it was a result of documented physical abuse or a supposedly threatening gesture, the conviction will wind up on your criminal record. This means that anyone will be able to see this information when conducting a routine background check, including employers and landlords. Such a charge will stay with you for the rest of your life and could haunt you for years to come.

Luckily, it is possible to defend yourself against domestic battery charges. A lawyer who’s handled these kinds of cases before will know how to fight back and will work with you to develop the most effective defense strategy for you. A battery charge does not have to mean jail time and it certainly does not have to mean that your life is ruined.

If you find yourself facing domestic battery charges, do not risk the consequences. As soon as you find out that you’re being arrested, contact a knowledgeable domestic violence lawyer immediately. The sooner you act, the better your chances at getting a positive outcome.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, Murder, and drug crimes.

The digital age we currently live in makes it so much easier for criminals to steal from us, and with far less risk.Equipped with high-tech devices, software, and the proper knowledge, sophisticated criminals are raking in an astounding $3.5 trillion every year – money lost globally to online fraud. Cloud computing, the rise of smartphones, and the ever-increasing popularity of social networks – all essential aspects to a hyper-connected community – are considerably easing fraudsters’ work.

While classic techniques such as telemarketing scams or the 419 scam (also known as the Nigerian scam) are still popular, Internet scammers are also taking advantage of today’s advanced technologies to up their game. If, in the past, they used to target lonely, old victims and appeal to their emotional pull, these days, conmen are becoming much more ruthless in their crimes. Raiding big corporations’ bank accounts or even taking out governmental programs is not unheard of, making it more obvious than ever that we’re all at risk.

And yet, there are ways to fight against fraud; perhaps not foolproof, but they can decrease our vulnerability and make communication and information sharing more secure. Here are five ways business owners can protect themselves from internet robbers:

1. Hire the right people. Employees are a vital part of your business – it’s only natural to ensure they’re working for you, and not against you. Conducting background checks, drug screenings, and checking personal and professional references will allow you to get to know your employees better (especially those handling money or inventory).
2. Catch them in the act. Conducting surprise audits to catch ill-intended employees off guard could speed up the process of discovering fraud – and also save you a lot of trouble. Auditors use computer data analysis techniques to uncover illicit activities, and they can quickly examine thousands of documents at once and determine if there’s anything suspicious. A surprise audit can uncover duplicate invoices and also analyze invoice numbers, red-flagging criminal activity and catching employees red-handed.
3. Set up a fraud policy. Make sure the people working for your company are aware that you have a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and that several methods will be used to catch and punish illegal activity.
4. Monitor operations. This should go without saying, but installing security cameras to monitor activity at cash registers or in inventory areas is central to preventing fraud and ensuring a safe business environment. Employees who know they’re being watched are less likely to engage in wrongdoings.
5. Get employees to talk.Research shows that an effective method of combating occupational fraud is receiving tips from employees, but not many of them will be willing to talk directly to a supervisor. Establishing a third-party service that can offer the anonymity in-house programs cannot might help detect suspicious activity in time and act on it promptly.

All of these methods can help you remain in control of your business and identify suspicious activity in a timely manner. It also helps to maintain a proactive, rather than reactive, attitude towards fraud in your organization, analyzing data and identifying patterns to recognize malicious criminal intent. As business owners, employees, or customers, we must work harder to protect our identity and assets during times when it’s more difficult than ever.

About the Author Andrew M. Weisberg is a criminal defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. A former prosecutor in Cook County, Mr. Weisberg,is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar, an elite group of criminal attorneys who are certified by the Illinois Supreme Court to try death penalty cases. He is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Mr. Weisberg is a sole practitioner at the Law Offices of Andrew M. Weisberg.

In a brief summary of events, the 40-year-old golfer was involved in a domestic dispute in Massachusetts when a police officer responded to the scene. When the officer tried to intervene between DiRico and the woman, DiRico punched the officer repeatedly in the head necessitating hospitalization and stitches for severe facial injuries.

In Chicago, DiRico could have racked up enough charges to go to jail without ever laying a hand on anyone. If you cause someone to fear that you will harm them, threaten them verbally, or even chase them, you can find yourself facing an assault charge without ever actually touching anyone. Various other factors can elevate an assault charge to aggravated assault or assault & battery. And when the victim is a member of law enforcement, as in the case of DiRico, the charge and the penalty automatically increases.

Ideally, in cases of confrontation, cool heads will prevail, and everyone involved either makes up or agrees to disagree. But when that doesn’t happen, and you find yourself in trouble and facing an assault charge, contact Chicago assault & battery attorney Andrew Weisberg who routinely handles assault & battery cases, and as a former Chicago prosecutor, knows the ins and outs of both sides of the courtroom.

No matter how straightforward or complex your assault & battery charge, a Chicago assault & battery attorney Andrew M. Weisberg is known for tough, aggressive defense. A former felony prosecutor, Attorney Weisberg has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and violent crimes to theft-related crimes and traffic violations. To contact Mr. Weisberg, visit / or call his cell phone 24/7 at (773) 908-9811 or Text LAWYER to 25827 for prompt call back. The consultation is free.