Posted on August 16, 2019 in Criminal Law

In today’s world, firearms have become a popular topic of conversation in both the legislative arena and in everyday life. Many lawmakers have pushed for increased regulation of the sale, purchase, and use of guns throughout the country, but many Americans still cling to their Second Amendment rights. The state of Illinois has fairly strict laws when it comes to guns. If you wish to possess a firearm in Illinois, you must first apply and receive a firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card. Similar to a driver’s license, the card contains information about you and is proof that you are permitted to own a firearm. In certain situations, your FOID card could be revoked, which would require you to take certain steps to avoid criminal charges.

How Can I Lose My FOID Card Privileges?

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 Posted on August 09, 2019 in Drug Crimes

Drug use among teenagers has been declining for some time now, although it still remains a problem, especially among teens who are involved in the juvenile justice system. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) reported that an estimated 1.3 million teenagers aged 12-17 had a substance abuse disorder in 2014. According to multiple studies, around half of the youths within the juvenile court system have problems related to alcohol or drugs. Rather than leave these disorders untreated, teens who come into contact with the juvenile justice system and have an apparent drug or alcohol problem can be referred to the juvenile drug court treatment program.

Determining Eligibility

In order to be admitted to the drug court treatment program in Illinois, a juvenile offender must be referred and must meet all eligibility requirements. For a juvenile to be eligible for the drug court treatment program, he or she must:

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 Posted on August 02, 2019 in Sex Crimes

Due to the #MeToo movement and revelations about the criminal actions of some public figures, some types of crimes are receiving increased scrutiny. Accusations of sex crimes, such as sexual assault, are becoming more common, and offenders can face significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines. However, in some cases involving sex crimes, the accusations may come years after the crimes allegedly occurred, and the statute of limitations may have passed. The “statute of limitations” is a designated period of time in which an individual can bring legal action against another party. Recently, Illinois became the eighth state to remove the statute of limitations on sex crimes, and those who are facing these types of charges should be sure to understand how this change in the law may affect them.

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 Posted on July 29, 2019 in Traffic Violations

Speeding is a rather common traffic offense in Illinois and throughout the United States. It is easy to speed, because in many cases, a person does not even realize they are going over the speed limit. Traveling over the speed limit may seem like a victimless offense, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding killed more than 9,700 people in 2017 alone, or around 26 percent of all people killed in traffic accidents that year. Because of the danger speeding poses, Illinois laws can be rather serious when it comes to punishing violators. Any person who speeds is technically breaking the law, but those who have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) may face other consequences that could potentially damage their careers.

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 Posted on July 22, 2019 in Domestic Violence & Orders of Protection

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.

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 Posted on July 15, 2019 in Traffic Violations

Traffic violations are not uncommon. Millions of people each year are issued citations and tickets for breaking traffic laws. Most of the time, these tickets just require the driver to pay a specified fine. In some cases, the driver may have to appear in traffic court to settle the issue. In other cases, a police officer might perform an arrest at a traffic stop if he or she believes the offense was serious enough. One such charge that warrants an arrest in the majority of cases is reckless driving, which is considered a misdemeanor charge in Illinois. But what exactly does the offense of reckless driving mean? 

Examples of Reckless Driving

According to the Illinois Vehicle Code, reckless driving occurs when a person does one of the following actions:

• Drives a vehicle with “willful or wanton disregard” for other drivers’ safety or other people’s property

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 Posted on July 02, 2019 in DUI

Driving while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never a good idea, and there are many consequences you can face for this serious crime. Not only do you face criminal penalties for a DUI, but you can also face administrative penalties, which can and typically will be added onto any criminal penalties. If you are arrested for DUI and test over the legal limit for alcohol or drugs, you face an automatic suspension of your driving privileges by the Illinois Secretary of State, all without even needing to be convicted of a crime. You can fight a statutory summary suspension of your driver's license, but you will need help from an experienced attorney.

What Is a Statutory Summary Suspension?

Basically, a statutory summary suspension is the administrative penalty that the Illinois Secretary of State imposes in DUI cases. If you fail a chemical test or refuse to take a test after being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, you will be subject to a statutory summary suspension. These penalties are completely separate from any criminal penalties that you may face for DUI-related reasons. 

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 Posted on June 26, 2019 in Traffic Violations

If you receive a traffic ticket while driving in the state of Illinois, the police officer who issued the ticket will tell you if you are required to appear in court to settle the ticket. If you are not required to appear in court, you will have three options:

1. Plead guilty, pay the fine, and receive a conviction on your record.
2. Plead guilty, pay the fine, attend traffic safety school, and forego a conviction.
3. Plead not guilty and request a trial.

If you request a trial, or if the officer informed you that you must attend a court date, you are legally required to do so. If you forget about your court date, or if you simply decide not to show up, you could face more severe consequences.

Consequences for Fine-Only Violations

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 Posted on June 18, 2019 in Sex Crimes

Being accused of a sex crime can greatly impact your life, regardless of the charge. Even if you are not convicted of the alleged charge, your criminal record is public information, and arrests or accusations can appear on a background check. A sex crime conviction can bring about many undesired consequences. Not only can you be sentenced to prison or probation or be ordered to pay steep fines, you will also face the judgment of the public and experience negative effects on your personal life and relationships, and you may even be required to register as a sex offender.

In the state of Illinois, the two major sex crimes are criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. Though they are similar crimes, they have different consequences.

Sexual Assault and Aggravated Sexual Assault

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 Posted on June 11, 2019 in Drug Crimes

Less than two weeks ago, the state of Illinois became the 11th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Beginning in 2020, residents will be permitted to legally possess cannabis. However, there are restrictions on the amount, and cannabis trafficking will still be illegal unless you are licensed.

In light of this legalization, an Illinois man was recently sentenced to prison for purchasing 42 pounds of marijuana-infused chocolate online. The man was sentenced to four years in prison for the Class X felony of possessing more than 5,000 grams of a substance containing cannabis.

Man Ordered Chocolate From California

Police first became aware of the situation described above when postal workers reported they noticed several suspicious packages being delivered to the man’s house. After police obtained a search warrant, they opened one of the packages and found more than 19,000 grams of chocolate infused with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Police then obtained a warrant to search the man’s house and found cocaine, more marijuana, a digital scale, more than $2,000 in cash, and receipts for packages he had mailed across the United States and Canada.

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