We have all gotten into arguments with our loved ones before. When disagreements escalate to the point where one person fears for his or her safety, the police can intervene, and domestic violence charges may be pressed. Domestic violence is estimated by the National Domestic Violence Hotline to affect more than 12 million people each year. It can occur between parents and children, siblings, spouses, or people in romantic relationships who live together. Accusations of this type of violence can involve a variety of alleged behaviors, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. One tool that is frequently used in domestic violence cases is an order of protection, and a person who is subject to this type of order should understand what it may entail and the potential consequences for a violation.

What Is an Order of Protection?

An order of protection is a court order that can prohibit a person from doing certain things, and it may also compel a person to meet certain requirements. For example, a person accused of domestic violence may be ordered to stop any contact with their alleged victim, or one partner involved in a domestic dispute may be required to leave their shared residence.

In Illinois, there are a few crimes that police officers take very seriously. One of those crimes is obstruction of justice. Obstruction of justice can be something as simple as providing a police officer with a false name or as serious as directly lying to a police officer about something he or she is questioning you about. No matter the act caused you to be charged with obstruction of justice, this crime is a felony in Illinois and can result in serious consequences that could follow you for the rest of your life. When facing these charges, it is best to consult with a criminal defense lawyer who has experience in obstruction of justice charges so you can plan an appropriate defense.

What Is Obstruction of Justice?

According to the Illinois Criminal Code of 2012, obstruction of justice occurs when a person intentionally prevents the apprehension or obstructs the prosecution or defense of a person and knowingly:

Two new laws regarding fees collected for bail is going to cost Cook County approximately $5 million in lost revenue every year. Lawmakers who pushed for the measure say these laws will especially protect those defendants who are poor and often do not have the funds when it comes to posting bail.

The first bill passed and signed into law addresses the amount of money counties can collect on bail. Previously, when a person was arrested and qualified to be released on bail, they would forfeit 10 percent of the bail amount as a processing fee. The county kept that processing fee whether or not the person was actually ever convicted for the crime or not. For example, a person who was arrested for a crime has their bail set at $5,000. Under current laws, the person is also responsible for a $500 processing fee. The person is later found innocent of the crime they were charged with. The $5,000 is returned, minus $500 kept by the county as the processing fee.

Under the new law, all bail processing fees are capped at $100 – whether bail set is for $1,000 or $1 million. Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey, who helped get the bill passed, said he wants to see a future law passed which would refund that fee to those defendants who are either have charges dismissed or are found not guilty.

There is a heroin epidemic that is gripping the nation, and Illinois has been as deeply affected by it as any other state. Some Illinois officials are saying the epidemic should be labeled a "medical emergency," with over 1,000 lives lost over the last three years. One county has seen a 200 percent increase in heroin overdoses in a four year period.

With so many people dying from drugs, a previously rarely-used law now appears to be gaining popularity among law enforcement and prosecutors, leaving many to question just how is this new legal trend helping those that need it the most – the addicts.

The provision under Illinois law regarding drug-induced homicide allows for the prosecution of anyone who delivers a drug to another individual if individual ends up dying from the use of that drug. The original intent of the law was to create an additional avenue of prosecution against drug dealers; however, there are several different legal interpretations of what "delivery" of the drug means. There does not have to be an exchange of currency or other item that would constitute a sale of the drug. One person simply handing the other person the drug – such as two friends who are doing the drugs together – constitutes a delivery under the law.

Reports indicate that approximately one-quarter of people pulled over in the U.S. refuse a breathalyzer test if asked. This can have serious consequences, even if you have not been drinking. Illinois driving laws include a clause that allows for a person’s license to be revoked purely on his or her refusal to submit to chemical testing when pulled over. In fact, a person can have his or her license suspended for a full year for refusing a breathalyzer test in Illinois. This is six months longer than if a person submits to a breathalyzer test and is found to have a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

Recently, a Chicago guitarist was arrested for a drunk driving incident in which he allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian, and had a blood alcohol content that was twice the legal limit. However, when initially questioned, he refused to take a field sobriety test. He finally submitted to a breathalyzer nearly seven hours after the incident while he was in holding.

There are three types of chemical testing to determine sobriety employed by the state of Illinois—breath, urine and blood. According to DrivingUniversity.com, this is because in Illinois a statute of "implied consent" applies. By getting into your car and starting the ignition after you have been drinking, you automatically consent to a chemical test for alcohol in the event that you are asked. This is known as a "No Refusal" law. According to WGEM.com, there are currently nine states, Illinois included, that have No Refusal laws in place.