Criminal Defense

In some situations, you may have to commit an act of self-defense in order to protect yourself, others, or your property. An act of self-defense is usually an act of force that would, in other circumstances, be illegal. The state of Illinois recognizes that there are some situations in which you might need to use […]

At what point does thoughtless, obnoxious behavior cross the line to become a crime of telephone or electronic harassment? Consider the following situations: A person makes repeated phone calls to another with the intent to harass them, whether the calls involve any conversation, just hanging up, making abusive or threatening statements, or making obscene comments

If you have watched police shows or movies, you probably know that you have the right to remain silent if and when you are ever arrested, right? In fact, the officer who arrests you must remind you of that right—as well as a few others—immediately upon taking you custody. While you do have the right

When a person is convicted of a crime, the consequences typically go far beyond jail time, probation, and fines. A conviction can and usually will follow a person for the rest of his or her life, making it more difficult for the individual to find a job, secure affordable housing, or qualify for certain educational

Being hit with a criminal charge can be a scary thing, especially if you do not know what to expect. The process through which you go through when you are accused of committing a crime is basically the same throughout the country, with a few differences here and there, depending on which state you are

Doorbell cameras, which take pictures of anyone approaching your house, have rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years. Homeowners use them to monitor family members (such as teens breaking curfew or having unapproved parties) as well as to deter crimes of opportunity such as criminal trespass, vandalism, home invasion, burglary, and porch package

Most cases in the Illinois criminal justice system do not end in a trial. Instead, in most cases a criminal defendant accepts a plea deal, also called a plea bargain. Before you decide if a plea bargain is right for you, it is important to understand how they work. The Criminal Justice Process Pleas are

Despite nearly a decade of ad campaigns and new laws intended to deter Americans from using handheld electronics while driving, bad habits persist. A recent survey found that half of US drivers still talk on handheld cellphones, 35 percent text message, and 29 percent admit to accessing the internet while driving. Distracted driving rates are

When you are facing criminal charges, there is a lot of uncertainty you will have to deal with. If you are like most people, you probably do not know the intricacies that come with a criminal trial, or how the courts operate. You probably are not familiar with many legal terms that are used both

There are many crimes that you may not know exist – or crimes that you may not think of when you think of crime. For some people, one of those elusive crimes may be obstruction of justice. Often, obstruction of justice charges are piled on top of other charges, which makes it harder to reach

In the American criminal justice system, a suspect is presumed to innocent until the government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect has committed a crime. Obviously, the most debatable part of that is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” What types of doubts are reasonable? And, reasonable doubt by whom? If you or someone you

If you are driving down the road and see a school bus stop to drop off kids, do you know what to do? If you fail to respond correctly, you could find yourself facing an expensive traffic ticket Illinois School Bus Laws Illinois Law (625 ILCS 5/11-1414) provides specific rules for approaching, overtaking, and passing