Joining a gang might seem like a way to find support, protection, or a sense of belonging, but it often leads to serious legal trouble. Many gang members face criminal charges — even if they did not directly commit a crime themselves. In Illinois, police and prosecutors take gang-related crimes very seriously, and a conviction […]
Five Crimes You Might Be Charged with if You Join a Gang Read More »
As a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, you are held to a higher standard than other drivers when it comes to traffic violations. If you are caught driving dangerously, the penalties can be severe. A conviction can put your CDL, job, and future earnings at risk. If you have received a serious traffic violation ticket,
In Illinois, school zones are specially protected areas. Crimes committed on or near school campuses are taken very seriously and punished more harshly. The goal behind sentencing and charging enhancements for certain crimes that occur in school zones is to protect students. There is no doubt that it is unsafe for children to encounter intoxicated
Getting arrested can be shocking. When you are being deprived of your freedom and forcibly placed in handcuffs, your instinct might be to resist, especially if you did not commit the crime you are being arrested for. While pulling away or trying to defend yourself in response to having force used against you may simply
Heightened police presence in schools and harsh zero-tolerance policies have led to a drastic increase in the number of juveniles who get arrested at school. Behaviors that used to result in no more than being suspended from school are now getting children handcuffed and charged with criminal offenses. Things like getting into a fight with
What Can I Do if My Child Was Arrested at School? Read More »
Simply having an illegal substance in your possession is not enough to sustain a conviction for drug possession or any other drug crime. According to Illinois law, it is only a crime to “knowingly possess a controlled substance.” This means that if you were unaware there was an illegal drug in your car, house, or
What if I Did Not Know I Was in Possession of Drugs? Read More »
When someone is intoxicated by alcohol, there are usually very obvious signs. The person will likely smell strongly of alcohol, have poor coordination, and exhibit slurred speech. It is also easy to confirm a person’s level of alcohol intoxication with a simple blood or breath test. It is not always as easy to tell when
How Do Police Officers Identify Drug Use During DUI Stops? Read More »
Having a juvenile criminal record can get in the way when you are applying to colleges or trying to get into a trade program. If you are charged as a juvenile, your record can be sealed when you become an adult. However, it is extremely common for teenagers to be charged and convicted as adults
Substance abuse is a major contributing factor in a lot of criminal cases. After someone has had multiple DUIs or other alcohol-related convictions, Illinois courts might order continuous alcohol monitoring. When continuous alcohol monitoring is ordered, the defendant will be required to wear an ankle monitor equipped with a special sensor that detects alcohol use,
Even in major cities like Chicago, we are still a very car-dependent society. Especially if you live in the surrounding suburbs instead of in the downtown area, public transportation is not always as accessible or convenient as we would like it to be. Most people still rely on their cars to get to work, do
Why Public Transportation is Not a Solution to DUI License Loss Read More »
