(773) 484-3131
Available 24/7
Crimes are classified according to type and severity. Felonies are notoriously the most serious crimes, usually carrying a minimum of one-year incarceration. In Illinois there are 5 classes of felonies, the most serious (aside from first degree murder) being the Class X Felony. The Illinois legislature has passed statutes that impose a sentence range, an extended term if …
The answer to this question depends on who is doing the tracking and under what circumstances. What you should be most concerned about is whether police are allowed to use GPS tracking devices to monitor your movements. There are two scenarios where this is likely to happen, the first is where police are tracking you …
Life is one of the most protected and sacred concepts in our society. This is reflected in religious beliefs, basic morality, and the law. We punish those that take or harm life. What we also do is allow for the protection of life. This comes in the form of self-defense laws. Self-defense can apply to …
The U.S. Supreme Court decided the controversy over whether dog-sniffs can be used to determine probable cause last month in the case of Florida v. Jardines. Dog-sniffs are a controversial topic in criminal law because specially trained dogs have been used for years by law enforcement, but the reliability has been questionable. This unreliability has raised …
Can Police use a Drug Dog to Search Me in Illinois? Read More »
Search warrants may seem like a free pass for police to look for whatever they want, but that is not true. Like most rules of criminal procedure, the Constitution affords a lot of protection to citizens against police abuse of power. Although a search warrant does allow police access to a particular place to look for evidence …
What are the Limits on Search Warrants in Illinois? Read More »
Murder is arguably the most serious crime our laws recognize. So serious that many factors are considered when accusing someone of the crime, like motive, mental state, sanity, and instrumentality. The severity of this crime is exemplified best in the Felony Murder law. This law makes it possible to charge someone involved in committing a …
Our Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures means that police must have a warrant to search us or our belongings most of the time. There are a few exceptions, one of which is called the automobile exception. In the case of automobile searches, you should be aware of the law …
Are police allowed to search my vehicle in Illinois without consent? Read More »
Domestic disturbances are an unfortunate but common occurrence in everyday life. Stress, relationship troubles, misunderstandings, and intoxication can all lead to a domestic disturbance. Allegations of domestic violence carry consequences you may not realize, one of which is regarding federal and state gun laws. Domestic Violence Before we examine the details of how a charge …
Can I Lose my Gun for Domestic Violence in Illinois? Read More »
Last week, Chicago’s City Council approved certain amendments to the Municipal Code that increases penalties for some public crimes. As the Chicago Sun Times recently reported, fines for public intoxication, urination, and gambling will be increased and could end in up to 6 months in jail. So called “quality of life” ordinances because they seek to promote …
Can I Go to Jail for Drinking on the Street in Chicago? Read More »
A recent development in New York City prompts a frank discussion about what Stop-and-Frisk laws are, how they are unofficially changing, and how you can protect yourself if you are unlawfully stopped and frisked by police. The short answer to the above is yes because the basis of the law comes from the highest court …
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
