Illinois does not have a “Stand Your Ground” or “Castle Doctrine” law, nor does it have a “Duty to Retreat” law. Instead, Illinois has a “Justifiable Use of Force” law, 750 ILCS 5/7, passed in 2004. Of particular importance to Concealed Carry License (CCL) holders and other firearms owners in Illinois, this law defines when
Does Illinois Law Protect My Right to Shoot in Self-Defense? Read More »
Are cases of assault and battery rising in Joliet and Will County? It is hard to say for certain because FBI crime statistics for a given year are not published until a full year later. But, a recent look at the Will County court docket suggests that there multiple victims in the county every day
What You Need to Know About Assault and Battery in Will County Read More »
Almost everything that Illinois courts do with issues pertaining to children is in the child’s best interests and to protect the child’s wellbeing. Illinois courts believe that children have an inherent right to have loving, safe and caring homes, which is why any and all accusations of child abuse, neglect and endangerment are taken very
Illinois Child Endangerment Laws and Consequences Read More »
Earlier this year, headlines across the country were ablaze with reports that an actor had been attacked outside a sandwich shop in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago. The actor, an openly gay African-American, reported to Chicago police that he was walking to his apartment when two men approached him, hit him, and put a noose
Disorderly Conduct for Filing a False Police Report Read More »
In the United States, certain limitations are placed on how and when police can search a person’s private property. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that citizens have the right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures” and that no search warrants should be issued
What is Considered an Unlawful Vehicle Search by Police? Read More »
There has been much research conducted on the ability and effectiveness of humans when they multitask. Though many people still say they are good at multitasking, the consensus is that humans cannot multitask efficiently. We often make mistakes when we multitask and we have to go back to figure out what other task we were
Types of Driver Distractions and Consequences for Distracted Driving Read More »
Law enforcement officials across the country are struggling to adapt to the provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill that differentiated hemp, now an agricultural commodity, from marijuana, which remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance. The Farm Bill legalized the regulated production of hemp as well as the interstate transport of hemp. As a result of
Shoplifting is often seen as a minor criminal offense by the general public. Many adults remember attempting to steal a candy bar as a child or know somebody who has swiped a lipstick or two from a drug store. These instances of theft may seem harmless, but stealing is not a victimless crime. Retail stores
When is Theft Considered a Felony in Illinois? Read More »
If you have been charged aggravated driving under the influence (DUI) because you caused an accident in which other people were seriously were seriously injured, you may feel there are extenuating circumstances that should be considered in your case. Whenever there are unusual circumstances in a legal case, it may be worth taking the case
Is a Medical Condition or Act of God a Valid DUI Defense? Read More »
If you have ever been pulled over on suspicion o f driving under the influence (DUI) then you may have had experience with a breathalyzer. Technically, the term “breathalyzer” is a brand name for a specific type of breath alcohol test, but the word is also used to refer to generic devices for estimating blood
Chemical Blood Alcohol Content Tests Read More »
One of the most well-known mass shootings in the United States happened at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado in 1999. Two teenage boys managed to kill 13 people and injure more than 20 others before they shot themselves. Since then, there have been dozens upon dozens of mass shootings, killing hundreds of people and
Proposed Illinois Bill Aims to Tighten Gun Laws in Wake of Recent Shooting Read More »
Both the state of Illinois and the U.S. Supreme Court have taken action recently to protect citizens from the unreasonable seizure of personal property allegedly used in the commission of or obtained with the profits of criminal activities such as drug possession and sales. The Illinois law took effect July 1, 2018, while the U.S.
Can Illinois Police Still Seize Assets Used in Crimes? Read More »
