Gun violence and illegal drug activity continue to be major concerns in the greater Chicago area. The problem, however, is not limited to the inner city. Fortunately, neither are actions by law enforcement. This week, police in Will County conducted a large-scale sweep that resulted in the seizure of drugs and guns, as well as […]
Sweep in Will County Seizes Drugs, Illegal Firearms Read More »
According to a recent analysis of public records, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in Cook County conducted 23,000 seizures of private property between since 2012. The study also indicated that a disproportionate number of the seizures occurred in the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Chicago—which also happen to be primarily communities of people of color. A
Asset Forfeiture Reform Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature Read More »
An individual charged with shoplifting may later learn they are facing a much more serious felony charge. How did this happen? What should you do? Illinois statutes lay out in detail the difference between theft and retail theft, and within the laws are provisions that allow for prosecutors to upgrade charges from misdemeanor shoplifting to
The Difference Between Misdemeanor Shoplifting and Felony Retail Theft Read More »
In a recent post on this blog, we talked a little bit about the differences between two common types of property crimes—specifically the offenses of theft and robbery. That post also made reference to a third offense that is often lumped in with the other two despite being rather different. The crime of burglary is
Illinois Property Crimes: Burglary Read More »
If you ever watch the news or skim local newspaper, you have probably heard reports of countless individuals who were arrested on suspicion of a wide variety of criminal offenses. When the crime in question involves the taking of someone else’s property , there are several charges that could be brought against the suspect. While
Illinois Property Crimes: Theft and Robbery Read More »
Fireworks have been used as a form of celebration around the world for about 1,500 years—longer if you count pre-gunpowder displays featuring fire and bamboo. Thus, on certain holidays, including Independence Day, it is hardly unusual to hear the screams of whistling fountains, the bangs of bottle rockets, and the percussive booms of large flowering
More Than 100 Shootings Around Chicago Over July 4th Holiday Weekend Read More »
The first juvenile court was established in Cook County in 1899. Since then the juvenile justice system has seen a number of changes to better serve minors who are charged with crimes. What is the Purpose of the Illinois Juvenile Court System? When the state of Illinois enacted the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, it
Navigating the Juvenile Court System in Illinois Read More »
Opioid-based medication has been available to the American public since before the Civil War, but recently, these types of drugs have skyrocketed to the forefront of Americans’ attention. Law enforcement and government officials have gone so far as to declare the opioid abuse a national epidemic, and if arrest rates and overdose numbers are any
Opioid Addiction and the Nation’s Drug Problem Read More »
It is no secret that the incidence of weapons violations in Chicago is high. Just last summer, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that more than 5,500 illegal guns were seized from January to September of 2016. The data reveals that law enforcement authorities are seizing more illegal guns in Chicago than anywhere else in the U.S.
Repeat Gun Crime Offenders Face New Sentencing Guidelines in Illinois Read More »
Over the past several years, the state of Illinois has taken steps to reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents caused by drivers engaging in “distracted driving.” To most drivers distracted driving means talking on one’s cell phone while operating a vehicle, but in reality, distracted driving laws apply to several other activities. According to the
Distracted Driving. Will I Receive a Ticket? Read More »
With all of the talk nationwide about criminal justice reform and alternatives to imprisonment for so-called “low-level” and non-violent offenders, it is understandable that the severity of certain drug crimes can be underestimated. Of course, in most such cases, the offenses in question tend to be simple possession or the possession of drug paraphernalia. Most
Appeals Court Upholds Drug-Induced Homicide Conviction Read More »
Over the last few years, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding implied consent laws and the ability of law enforcement to force a driver to submit to blood-alcohol content (BAC) testing. The issue is multifaceted, as with many subjects in the realm of criminal law, but the debate boiled down to two
Illinois Case Raises Questions Regarding Urine Tests in DUI Cases Read More »
