In Illinois, sex crime accusations are taken seriously. The state reported a forcible rape rate of 42.5 per 100,000 people in 2023. That means these cases are common—and closely watched by prosecutors, law enforcement, and the public.

You might feel like the system is stacked against you. Your name could be tarnished, your job on the line, and your personal relationships strained. Even before a trial begins, the accusation alone can impact your life in ways you didn’t expect.

This [...]

In our state, sexual abuse and sexual assault laws are stringent, covering a range of non-consensual acts. These offenses are classified based on the nature of the act, the age of the victim, and the presence of aggravating factors such as force or threats.

This post will include in-depth breakdowns of criminal sexual abuse, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Being convicted for any of these requires [...]