Statistics from the Secretary of State’s office show that while there were fewer alcohol-related fatalities in recent years, the proportion of fatalities to which alcohol contributed has remained relatively stagnant, hovering around 40 percent except for one anomalous year. It is difficult for one to contemplate these figures; if the influence of alcohol were removed […]
Driving Under the Influence in Illinois Read More »
In most states across the U.S., conviction on a felony charge can lead to a person losing many civil rights, some temporarily and others permanently. In Illinois, one of the rights a person stands to lose upon conviction of felony charges is the right to firearms ownership. While the loss of this right is not
FOID Applications for Convicted Felons Read More »
Underage drinking and driving is an ongoing problem all across the country, with a surplus of eye-opening statistics that illuminate the reality that the problem is not going to disappear anytime soon. Sadly, in many cases, minors gain access to alcohol because adults provide it for them. While we cannot always control where or how
What Laws Are in Place to Address Underage Drinking and Driving? Read More »
Police are tasked with enforcing the law, but this can lead to problems when the police themselves do not understand it. For instance, police are not allowed to initiate a traffic stop for no good reason because a baseless stop violates the driver’s Fourth Amendment right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. Instead,
Traffic Stops and Reasonable Mistakes of Law Read More »
It is a common desire once you have been pulled over to attempt to escape having a ticket written against you. Whether bargaining with the officer on the side of the road or attempting to strike a deal with the prosecutor in court, many individuals wish to avoid the fines, fees, penalties, and higher insurance
Traffic Violations Excuses That Will Not Work Read More »
Under Illinois law, there are several types of assault for which a person may face criminal charges. Assault, in any form, is a serious matter, and such charges may carry severe penalties. If you have been charged with assault, it is important to understand the potential implications. The Basics of Assault According to the Illinois
What You Should Know About Assault in Illinois Read More »
Over the last decade and a half, heroin use has become an issue of critical concern for communities around the country. The problem has become so serious and prevalent that it is being considered a nationwide epidemic. The federal government estimates that, on average, more than 75 people die every day from opioid overdoses—a class
Legal Marijuana Could Help Fight Heroin Epidemic Read More »
When you are arrested and charged with a crime, your arrest will remain on your permanent record, even if the charges against you are dismissed. Criminal background checks are often part of the application process when you are looking for a job, a loan, or even admission to certain educational programs. If you have even
New Law Increases Eligibility for Expungement Read More »
Most people are familiar with the crime of theft —which is an offense that is committed when someone takes property that belongs to another. Most are even familiar with the principle that a theft is still committed when a person obtains control over another’s property by trickery or by deceit. Furthermore, most people are aware
Theft Charges and Possessing Stolen Property Read More »
Will County Drug Court In 1971, President Richard Nixon announced to the American public that the nation was at war. Instead of fighting a pitched military battle against another country, the enemy in this particular was drug abuse. In the months and years that followed, federal efforts to control illegal drugs were kicked into high
Will County Offers Alternatives to Drug-Addicted Offenders Read More »
The phrase “bucket list” entered the public consciousness sometime around 2006 or 2007 thanks, in large part, to a feature film called The Bucket List. As an irreverent play on the idiom “to kick the bucket”—which means to die—a bucket list has come to be known as a list of experiences that a person would
99-Year-Old Dutch Woman “Arrested” to Fulfill Bucket List Wish Read More »
Despite the common belief to the contrary, juvenile criminal cases are often more complex than those for their adult counterparts accused of the same offense. Regulations covering the criminal conduct and prosecution of juveniles are not uniform, with individual courts often instituting their own policies on any aspect of such procedures not explicitly governed by
Issues Unique to Juvenile Defense Read More »
