Defending Your Rights, Protecting Your Future
When news of a violent encounter or homicide breaks in Illinois, many meet claims of self-defense coming from the accused with a good deal of skepticism. This comes from an assumption that for an altercation to escalate to the point of one of the parties dying, all...
When you hear about someone who intentionally hurt someone else, you often hear two terms: assault and battery. In some cases, the terms are used together so often that it can be challenging to know the difference between them. Unfortunately, it may not be clear in...
Leaving the scene of an accident – also called a hit-and-run – can be a felony offense in Illinois. It's far more serious than a mere traffic ticket. If convicted, you could be looking at jail time, steep fines and loss of your driver's license – not to mention a...
Illinois has strict requirements for those seeking to legally carry a firearm. You must have a Firearm Owners Identification card (FOID), issued by Illinois state police, in order to possess a gun or ammunition. But what if you live out of state and have a permit to...
An order of protection (OP) is a type of restraining order in Illinois. It's issued in domestic violence situations involving romantic partners, co-parents, former romantic partners, family members or household members. Criminal charges for violating an order of...
Felony charges are the most serious type of criminal offense. They can result in a lengthy prison sentence and other harsh consequences. Getting the charges dropped or securing an acquittal is a major victory for those charged with felonies. However, you may still...
K-9 units for police are a heavily utilized tool to allow for vehicle searches. In a perfect scenario, the dog will smell possible narcotics, and the police will search the car and make an arrest. However, that scenario is not always the case. The fact is k-9 units...
While we all know that you should not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, sometimes mistakes happen. One mistake should not mean the end of your driving privileges or your clean record. If law enforcement arrests you for driving under the influence of...
Assault and battery are serious offenses in Illinois. While they’re generally misdemeanors, they are still considered violent crimes. A conviction can result in lasting consequences such as jail time, probation, steep fines and a permanent criminal record. For college...
Shoplifting – called “retail theft” in Illinois – is a specific type of theft involving taking merchandise from a retail establishment without payment. As with other types of theft, the severity of the charge depends on the value of the stolen goods. If convicted of...